''Bathelium'' is a

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 ...

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 ...

-forming

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

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 ...

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 1803 by Swedish lichenologist

Erik Acharius Erik Acharius (10 October 1757 – 14 August 1819) was a Swedish botanist who pioneered the Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of lichens and is known as the "father of lichenology". Acharius was famously the last pupil of Carl Linnaeus. Life Ac ...

, with '' Bathelium mastoideum'' 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

Genus ''Bathelium'' features a thallus (a protective outer layer) usually with olive-green to brownish or greyish hues. This genus is distinguished by the form of its

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 ...

, the spore-producing structures, which possess apical

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 (openings at the top). These ascomata can be found either singly or in groups, and often form , a stroma made of both thallus tissue and bits of host tissue. They are noticeable, ranging from to , and show a brown-black colouration, though in rare instances, they may have a whitish (powdery) appearance. This is complemented by a peripheral layer made up of tightly packed cells. Within the ascomata, the , a tissue layer containing filamentous structures, is clear 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 ...

(translucent). It comprises thin, interconnecting filaments known as . The number from one to eight per

ascus An ascus (; : asci) is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. Each ascus usually contains eight ascospores (or octad), produced by meiosis followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some gen ...

. They are 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 ...

to (divided into compartments by cross walls), with thin septa and more or less angular . These spores are , meaning they have a spindle-like shape, with either acute (pointed) or rounded ends, and are not constricted at the median septum. They appear hyaline, do not react to

iodine Iodine is a chemical element; it has symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists at standard conditions as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...

(IKI−), and are encased in a gelatinous sheath. No

conidiomata Conidiomata (singular: Conidioma) are blister-like fruiting structures produced by a specific type of fungus called a coelomycete. They are formed as a means of dispersing asexual spores call conidia, which they accomplish by creating the blister- ...

(structures responsible for asexual reproduction) have been identified in this genus. In terms of chemical properties, ''Bathelium'' frequently contains

anthraquinone Anthraquinone, also called anthracenedione or dioxoanthracene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon, aromatic organic compound with formula . Several isomers exist but these terms usually refer to 9,10-anthraquinone (IUPAC: 9,10-dioxoanthracene) wherein th ...

s, compounds often present internally in pseudostromata.

Lichexanthone Lichexanthone is an organic compound in the structural class of chemicals known as xanthones. Lichexanthone was first isolated and identified by Japanese chemists from a species of foliose lichen, leafy lichen in the 1940s. The compound is known ...

, a fluorescent

xanthone Xanthone is an organic compound with the molecular formula C13H8O2. It is a white solid. In 1939, xanthone was introduced as an insecticide and it currently finds uses as ovicide for codling moth eggs and as a larvicide. Xanthone is also use ...

compound, is occasionally found within the genus.

Species

*'' Bathelium albidoporum'' *'' Bathelium austroafricanum'' *'' Bathelium boliviense'' – Bolivia *'' Bathelium carolinianum'' *'' Bathelium compositum'' *'' Bathelium connivens'' *'' Bathelium duplex'' *'' Bathelium flavostiolatum'' – Bolivia *'' Bathelium inspersomastoideum'' – Bolivia *'' Bathelium lineare'' *'' Bathelium madreporiforme'' *'' Bathelium mastoideum'' *'' Bathelium megaleium'' *'' Bathelium meristosporum'' *'' Bathelium mirabile'' – Bolivia *'' Bathelium nigroporum'' *'' Bathelium oligosporum'' *'' Bathelium ostendatum'' *'' Bathelium phaeomelodes'' *'' Bathelium porinosporum'' *'' Bathelium pruinolucens'' *'' Bathelium pruinosum'' – Bolivia *'' Bathelium sphaericum'' *'' Bathelium subalbens'' *'' Bathelium sundaicum'' *'' Bathelium tuberculosum'' *'' Bathelium varium'' *'' Bathelium velatum''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10426933 Trypetheliaceae Dothideomycetes genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 1803 Taxa named by Erik Acharius