''Crustospathula amazonica'' is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. Found in South America, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists

André Aptroot André Aptroot (Heemskerk, 1961) is a Dutch mycologist and lichenologist. In 1993 he did his PhD at the University of Utrecht under the supervision of Robbert Gradstein (nl). His dissertation was titled "Systematic studies on pyrenocarpous li ...

, Marcela Cáceres, and Einar Timdal. The type specimen was collected by the first two authors from the Parque Natural Municipal de Porto Velho (

Rondônia Rondônia () is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northern subdivision of the country (central-western part). To the west is a short border with the state of Acre, to the north is the state of Amazonas, in the east is Mato Grosso, ...

, Brazil), where it was found growing on the smooth bark of a tree in a primary

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

. It also occurs in French Guiana and Peru, and tends to grow in association with lichens of the genus ''

Porina ''Porina'' is a genus of lichens in the family Trichotheliaceae. A 2020 estimate places about 145 species in the widespread genus. Species *''Porina abrupta'' *'' Porina adflata'' *'' Porina africana'' *'' Porina ahlesiana'' *'' Porina ...

'' and with members of the family

Graphidaceae The Graphidaceae are a family of lichens in the order Ostropales. Distribution and ecology The vast majority of Graphidaceae species are restricted to the tropics. Most Graphidaceae species are epiphytic (i.e. they grow only on plants). Gener ...

. The lichen has a film-like, green thallus consisting of fine, aggregated ; no prothallus is present. Soredia (measuring 15–20

μm The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...

in diameter) are whitish, roughly spherical, and occur at the tips of cartilagous stalks up to 3 mm tall.

References

Ramalinaceae Lichen species Lichens described in 2014 Lichens of Brazil Lichens of northern South America Lichens of Peru Taxa named by André Aptroot Taxa named by Marcela Cáceres Taxa named by Einar Timdal {{Lecanorales-stub