Fauriea

''Fauriea'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. The genus, which contains seven species, is a member of the subfamily Caloplacoideae.

Characteristics of the genus ''Fauriea'' include its crustose, continuous grey to whitish-grey thallus and (fruiting structures) with a brown or dark brown . The thallus has a sleek, continuous structure that is not , with greyish colours. The apothecia, which initially appear submerged within the thallus, later partially emerge or can be seen in structures called thalline warts.

Taxonomy

''Fauriea'' was circumscribed in 2016 by lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk, Laszlo Lőkös, and Jae-Seoun Hur, with ''Fauriea chujaensis'' assigned as the type species. The genus was named in honour of French botanist Urbain Jean Faurie (1847–1915), who made significant contributions to the collections of lichens, mosses and vascular plants in the Eastern Asian region. In terms of phylogenetics, ''Fauriea'' is closely related to the genus '' Rufoplaca'', the '' Caloplaca furax'' group, and the newly identified '' Caloplaca lecapustulata'' and '' Caloplaca lecanorocarpa''. However, the evidence for this shared relationship is not very strong, except for the clear and strong evidence connecting ''Rufoplaca'' with the ''Caloplaca furax'' group.

''Fauriea'' was originally was proposed for two species, i.e., the type species ''F. chujaensis'' and ''F. orientochinensis''. Several species were proposed for addition to the genus in 2019 and 2020.

Description

Lichens in ''Fauriea'' have crustose thalli, which exists as uninterrupted, whole (i.e., not fragmented into ) surfaces, with various shades of grey, from muted grey to lead-grey, to whitish grey in certain areas. The of the ''Lecanora''-like apothecia, in contrast, are hues of brown to dark brown.

A key characteristic of ''Fauriea'' is the form of its apothecia, which initially lie hidden within the thallus, only to semi-emerge or become apparent in thalline warts later on. These apothecia may give the appearance of being lecanorine or sunken into the thallus, which is truly . The edges of the have a whitish-grey tone, contrasting with the dark brown disc. When the develops completely, it shows a light brown or transparent brown shade.

A cross-section of the ''Fauriea'' reveals additional details about its morphology; the shows a range of tissue structure from to mesodermatous . The cortical layer of the is purely paraplectenchymatous. The , shaped like a broomstick's bristles, branch out at the top, and have a brownish tint.

Inside the asci of the ''Fauriea'', there are eight spores. These ascospores are bipolar, with a narrow ellipsoid form that broadens slightly at the septum. The septum of these ascospores is of medium width. have not been observed in ''Fauriea''.

On a chemical level, both the thallus and yield negative results for K spot reactions. Also notable is the absence of anthraquinones (chemical substances common in the Teloschistaceae), contributing to the unique chemistry of the genus.

Habitat and distribution

''Fauriea'' is commonly found on siliceous rocks in the coastal areas, often sharing space with members of ''Caloplaca'' and genera such as ''Lecanora'', ''Ramalina'', and ''Phaeophyscia'', or on the bark of pine trees.

''Fauriea'' is macroscopically similar to some ''Pyrenodesmia'' species, particularly '' P. variabilis'', but it stands out due to its entire thallus, smaller apothecia, narrower ascospores and a significantly wider ascospore septum. Its absence of a white on apothecial discs and lack of K+ and C+ spot test reactions also sets it apart. The absence of molecular data for 'Caloplaca' atroalba, a North American lichen that shares similar characteristics with ''Fauriea chujaensis'', provides a challenge for further comparative analysis. Additionally, ''Fauriea chujaensis'' bears a resemblance to the genus ''Aspicilia'' (family Megasporaceae), but the morphology of its ascospores confirms its place within the family Teloschistaceae.

Species

, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accept seven species of ''Fauriea''.
* '' Fauriea chujaensis''
* '' Fauriea jejuensis'' – South Korea
* '' Fauriea mandshuriaensis''
* '' Fauriea orientochinensis'' – China
* '' Fauriea tabidella''
* '' Fauriea trassii''
* '' Fauriea yonaguniensis'' – Yonaguni Island, Japan

One taxon that was proposed for inclusion in this genus as ''Fauriea patwolseleyae'' is now known as '' Caloplaca patwolseleyae''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q43117974

Teloschistales
Teloschistales genera
Lichen genera
Taxa described in 2016
Taxa named by Sergey Kondratyuk
Taxa named by Jae-Seoun Hur
Taxa named by László Sándor Lőkös