''Astrothelium'' is a large
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
corticolous
This glossary of mycology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to mycology, the study of fungi. Terms in common with other fields, if repeated here, generally focus on their mycology-specific meaning. Related terms can be found ...
(bark-dwelling)
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...
s in the family
Trypetheliaceae
The Trypetheliaceae are a family of mainly lichen-forming fungi in the order Trypetheliales. The family consists almost exclusively of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with an almost strictly tropical distribution.
Taxonomy
Trypethe ...
.
The genus is characterized by a corticate
thallus
Thallus (: thalli), from Latinized Greek (), meaning "a green shoot" or "twig", is the vegetative tissue of some organisms in diverse groups such as algae, fungi, some liverworts, lichens, and the Myxogastria. A thallus usually names the entir ...
and diverse
ascomata
An ascocarp, or ascoma (: ascomata), is the fruiting body (sporocarp (fungi), sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded ascus, asci, each of which typically contains four to ...
structures, which can be simple, aggregated, or forming . ''Astrothelium'' is also notable for the walls of its ascomata, the so-called ' (i.e., tightly interwoven) arrangement of cells in these walls, and various forms of , transparent
spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...
s.
Taxonomy
The genus was
circumscribed In geometry, a circumscribed circle for a set of points is a circle passing through each of them. Such a circle is said to ''circumscribe'' the points or a polygon formed from them; such a polygon is said to be ''inscribed'' in the circle.
* Circum ...
in 1824 by German botanist
Franz Gerhard Eschweiler, with ''
Astrothelium conicum'' assigned as the
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
.
Description
The
thallus
Thallus (: thalli), from Latinized Greek (), meaning "a green shoot" or "twig", is the vegetative tissue of some organisms in diverse groups such as algae, fungi, some liverworts, lichens, and the Myxogastria. A thallus usually names the entir ...
, or the vegetative body of ''Astrothelium'', is , meaning it is covered by a protective . The
ascomata
An ascocarp, or ascoma (: ascomata), is the fruiting body (sporocarp (fungi), sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded ascus, asci, each of which typically contains four to ...
, which are the
fruiting bodies
The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...
containing the reproductive spores, can appear in various forms such as simple, aggregated, or forming . These structures often differ in their composition and colour, and can be used as to distinguish between species. The ascomata can range from being immersed within the thallus to prominently displayed on the surface. The
ostiole
An ''ostiole'' is a small hole or opening through which algae or fungi release their mature spores.
The word is a diminutive of wikt:ostium, "ostium", "opening".
The term is also used in higher plants, for example to denote the opening of the ...
s, or small openings that allow the release of spores, can be located at the apex or eccentrically on the ascomata and may appear as either simple or fused structures.
''Astrothelium'' is also notable for its ascomatal wall, which is made up of
hypha
A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium.
Structure
A hypha consists of one o ...
l cells and is typically carbonized. The wall features a , a term used to describe a tightly interwoven arrangement of cells.
Within the , the tissue that houses the
asci (spore-producing structures), the cells are either clear or filled with oil droplets. The
ascospore
In fungi, an ascospore is the sexual spore formed inside an ascus—the sac-like cell that defines the division Ascomycota, the largest and most diverse Division (botany), division of fungi. After two parental cell nucleus, nuclei fuse, the ascu ...
s, which are the sexual spores responsible for reproduction, are and
hyaline
A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from , and .
Histopathology
Hyaline cartilage is named after its glassy appearance on fresh gross pathology. On light microscopy of H&E stained slides, the extracellula ...
in appearance. They can also exhibit a variety of forms, including transversely
septate
In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate.
Examples
Human anatomy
* Interatrial se ...
or , reflecting their segmented or multi-cellular nature.
Species
,
Species Fungorum
''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (Binomial nomenclature, scientific names) in the fungus Kingdom (biology), kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partn ...
accepts 267 species in ''Astrothelium''.
*''
Astrothelium aenascens''
*''
Astrothelium aeneoides''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium aeneum''
*''
Astrothelium alboverrucoides''
*''
Astrothelium alboverrucum''
*''
Astrothelium amazonum''
*''
Astrothelium ambiguum''
*''
Astrothelium amylosporum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium andamanicum''
*''
Astrothelium annulare''
*''
Astrothelium astrolucidum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium aurantiacocinereum''
*''
Astrothelium aurantiacum''
*''
Astrothelium auratum''
*''
Astrothelium aureoirregulare''
*''
Astrothelium aureomaculatum''
*''
Astrothelium basilicum''
*''
Astrothelium bicolor''
*''
Astrothelium bireagens''
– Colombia
*''
Astrothelium bivelum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium buckii''
*''
Astrothelium bullatothallinum''
– Venezuela
*''
Astrothelium bullatum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium calosporum''
*''
Astrothelium campylocartilagineum''
*''
Astrothelium carassense''
*''
Astrothelium carrascoense''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium cartilagineum''
*''
Astrothelium cayennense''
– French Guiana
*''
Astrothelium cecidiogenum''
*''
Astrothelium ceratinum''
*''
Astrothelium chapadense''
*''
Astrothelium chrysoglyphum''
*''
Astrothelium chrysostomum''
*''
Astrothelium chulumanense''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium cinereorosellum''
*''
Astrothelium cinereum''
*''
Astrothelium citrisporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium clypeatum''
*''
Astrothelium coccineum''
– Mexico
*''
Astrothelium colombiense''
*''
Astrothelium condoricum''
*''
Astrothelium confluens''
*''
Astrothelium conicum''
*''
Astrothelium conjugatum''
*''
Astrothelium consimile''
*''
Astrothelium corallinum''
*''
Astrothelium corticatum''
*''
Astrothelium crassum''
*''
Astrothelium cryptolucens''
*''
Astrothelium curvatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium curvisporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium decemseptatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium deforme''
*''
Astrothelium defossum''
*''
Astrothelium degenerans''
*''
Astrothelium diaphanocorticatum''
– Papua New Guinea
*''
Astrothelium dicoloratum''
*''
Astrothelium dimidioinspersum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium disjunctum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium dissimilum''
*''
Astrothelium duplicatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium ecuadorense''
*''
Astrothelium effusum''
*''
Astrothelium elixii''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium endochryseum''
*''
Astrothelium eumultiseptatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium eustominspersum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium eustomurale''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium exostemmatis''
*''
Astrothelium fallax''
*''
Astrothelium feei''
*''
Astrothelium fernandae''
*''
Astrothelium ferrugineum''
*''
Astrothelium fijiense''
*''
Astrothelium flavocoronatum''
*''
Astrothelium flavoduplex''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium flavogigasporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium flavomaculatum''
*''
Astrothelium flavomegaspermum''
*''
Astrothelium flavomeristosporum''
*''
Astrothelium flavomurisporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium flavostiolatum''
*''
Astrothelium flavostromatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium flavum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium fuscosporum''
*''
Astrothelium galbineum''
*''
Astrothelium galligenum''
*''
Astrothelium gigantosporum''
*''
Astrothelium globosum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium graphicum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium grossoides''
*''
Astrothelium guianense''
*''
Astrothelium gyalostiolatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium himalayense''
*''
Astrothelium indicum''
*''
Astrothelium infossum''
*''
Astrothelium infravulcanum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium infuscatulum''
*''
Astrothelium inspersaeneum''
*''
Astrothelium inspersonitidulum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium inspersoconicum''
*''
Astrothelium inspersogalbineum''
*''
Astrothelium inspersotuberculosum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium intermedium''
*''
Astrothelium introflavidum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium irregulare''
*''
Astrothelium isidiatum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium isohypocrellinum''
*''
Astrothelium jiangxiense''
*''
Astrothelium keralense''
*''
Astrothelium komposchii''
*''
Astrothelium kunzei''
*''
Astrothelium laevithallinum''
*''
Astrothelium laurerosphaerioides''
*''
Astrothelium leioplacum''
*''
Astrothelium leucosessile''
*''
Astrothelium lineatum''
*''
Astrothelium longisporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium lucidomedullatum''
*''
Astrothelium lucidostromum''
*''
Astrothelium lucidothallinum''
*''
Astrothelium lugescens''
*''
Astrothelium luminothallinum''
*''
Astrothelium luridum''
*''
Astrothelium macrocarpum''
*''
Astrothelium macroeustomum''
– French Guiana
*''
Astrothelium macrosporum''
*''
Astrothelium macrostiolatum''
*''
Astrothelium macrostomoides''
*''
Astrothelium macrostomum''
– Brazil

*''
Astrothelium marcidum''
*''
Astrothelium mediocrassum''
*''
Astrothelium medioincrassatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium megacrypticum''
*''
Astrothelium megaeneum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium megaleium''
*''
Astrothelium megalophthalmum''
*''
Astrothelium megalostomum''
*''
Astrothelium megaspermum''
*''
Astrothelium megatropicum''
*''
Astrothelium megeustomum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium megeustomurale''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium meghalayense''
*''
Astrothelium megochroleucum''
*''
Astrothelium meiophorum''
*''
Astrothelium meristosporoides''
*''
Astrothelium meristosporum''
*''
Astrothelium mesoduplex''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium miniannulare''
*''
Astrothelium minicecidiogenum''
– Costa Rica
*''
Astrothelium mordonialense''
*''
Astrothelium muriconicum''
*''
Astrothelium neglectum''
*''
Astrothelium neodiplocarpum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium neogalbineum''
*''
Astrothelium neoinspersum''
*''
Astrothelium neovariolosum''
*''
Astrothelium nicaraguense''

*''
Astrothelium nigratum''
*''
Astrothelium nigrocacuminum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium nigrorufum''
*''
Astrothelium nigrum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium nitidiusculum''
*''
Astrothelium nitidulum''
*''
Astrothelium norisianum''
*''
Astrothelium novemseptatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium obtectum''
*''
Astrothelium ochraceum''
*''
Astrothelium ochroleucoides''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium octoseptatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium octosporoides''
*''
Astrothelium octosporum''
*''
Astrothelium oligocarpum''
*''
Astrothelium olivaceofuscum''
*''
Astrothelium palaeoexostemmatis''
– Thailand
*''
Astrothelium pallidoflavum''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium papillosum''
*''
Astrothelium papulosum''
*''
Astrothelium parathelioides''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium peranceps''
*''
Astrothelium perspersum''
*''
Astrothelium phaeothelium''
*''
Astrothelium philippinense''
*''
Astrothelium phlyctaena''
*''
Astrothelium pictum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium porosum''
*''
Astrothelium praetervisum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudannulare''
*''
Astrothelium pseudocrassum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudodermatodes''
*''
Astrothelium pseudodissimulum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudoferrugineum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudomegalophthalmum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudoplatystomum''
*''
Astrothelium pseudovariatum''
*''
Astrothelium puiggarii''
*''
Astrothelium pulcherrimum''
*''
Astrothelium pupula''
*''
Astrothelium purpurascens''
*''
Astrothelium pustulatum''
*''
Astrothelium pyrenuliforme''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium quasimamillanum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium quatuorseptatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium quintannulare''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium quintosulphureum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium rhinothallinum''
*''
Astrothelium rimosum''
*''
Astrothelium robustosporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium rogitamae''
*''
Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium rubrostiolatum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium rufescens''
*''
Astrothelium sanguinarium''
*''
Astrothelium sanguineoxanthum''
*''
Astrothelium santessonii''
*''
Astrothelium saxicola''
*''
Astrothelium scoria''
*''
Astrothelium scoriothelium''
*''
Astrothelium scorizum''
*''
Astrothelium septemseptatum''
*''
Astrothelium septoconicum''
*''
Astrothelium sexloculatum''
*''
Astrothelium siamense''
*''
Astrothelium sierraleonense''
*''
Astrothelium sikkimense''
*''
Astrothelium simplex''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium sinense''
*''
Astrothelium sinuosum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium sipmanii''
*''
Astrothelium solitarium''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium sordithecium''
*''
Astrothelium spectabile''
*''
Astrothelium sphaerioides''
*''
Astrothelium squamosum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium stramineum''
*''
Astrothelium straminicolor''
*''
Astrothelium stromatocinnamomeum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium stromatofluorescens''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium stromatolucidum''
– Colombia
*''
Astrothelium studerae''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium subcatervarium''
*''
Astrothelium subdiscretum''
*''
Astrothelium subdisjunctum''
*''
Astrothelium subdissocians''
*''
Astrothelium subendochryseum''
*''
Astrothelium subeustominspersum''
*''
Astrothelium subinterjectum''
*''
Astrothelium subnitidiusculum''
*''
Astrothelium subrufescens''
*''
Astrothelium subscoria''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium subsiamense''
*''
Astrothelium sulphureum''
*''
Astrothelium superbum''
*''
Astrothelium supraclandestinum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium tanianum''
– Malaysia
*''
Astrothelium tenue''
*''
Astrothelium testudineum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium tetrasporum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium thelotremoides''
*''
Astrothelium trematum''
*''
Astrothelium trypethelioides''
*''
Astrothelium trypethelizans''
*''
Astrothelium tuberculosum''
*''
Astrothelium ubianense''
*''
Astrothelium ultralucens''
*''
Astrothelium unisporum''
*''
Astrothelium valsoides''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium variabile''
– Bolivia
*''
Astrothelium variatum''
*''
Astrothelium vezdae''
*''
Astrothelium vulcanum''
*''
Astrothelium xanthopseudocyphellatum''
*''
Astrothelium xanthosordithecium''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium xanthosuperbum''
– Brazil
*''
Astrothelium zebrinum''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4811721
Lichen genera
Dothideomycetes genera
Taxa described in 1824
Taxa named by Franz Gerhard Eschweiler