Scytinium Biatorinum

''Scytinium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Collemataceae. It has 49 species. These lichens are typically found on basic rocks, soil, and trees, occasionally in association with mosses. Despite the morphological and ecological diversity within ''Scytinium'', its species share similar ascospore features, such as shape and septation, as well as a small to medium-sized thallus with at least a partial .

Description

''Scytinium'' encompasses lichen species that exhibit a variety of thallus forms, such as crustose, squamulose, , or . These lichens have a gelatinous texture, and their colour ranges from dark brown and bluish-grey to olive-green. The of ''Scytinium'' can be spreading, elongate, or somewhat cylindrical in shape. The upper and lower , when present, is composed of either cuboid cells or flattened, degraded tissue. The medulla contains loosely interwoven or compact hyphae, along with the photobiont ''Nostoc''–a common genus of cyanobacteria.

Both the upper and lower surfaces of ''Scytinium'' lichens can vary from smooth to wrinkled or ridged and typically exhibit a matte appearance. While isidia may or may not be present, soredia are absent in this genus. The cells are generally arranged in distinct chains. The ascomata are in the form of apothecia with a red-brown , which can be sessile, laminal, or marginal. The is smooth to , to , and often persistent. The is raised, cup-shaped, and predominantly composed of cells, ranging in colour from colourless to reddish-brown. The disc is either concave or flat.

The is colourless to reddish-brown and does not react with a solution of potassium hydroxide or ammonia. The hymenium is colourless, turning blue when exposed to iodine. The is shallow, and its colour varies from colourless to pale yellowish. The consists of numerous, that separate in potassium hydroxide and sometimes have branched apices that are somewhat swollen. The asci contain eight spores and are club-shaped (clavate), with a strongly thickened apex that reacts to potassium hydroxide and iodine, turning blue. are primarily ellipsoidal, , and colourless, lacking any distinct surface ornamentation or . , or , are infrequent in ''Scytinium'' species. No lichen products have been detected in ''Scytinium'' species using thin-layer chromatography.

Species

, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 48 species of ''Scytinium''.




*'' Scytinium apalachense''
*''Scytinium aquale''
*'' Scytinium aragonii''
*'' Scytinium biatorinum''
*'' Scytinium bosoense''
*'' Scytinium californicum''
*'' Scytinium callopismum''
*'' Scytinium cellulosum''
*'' Scytinium chibaense''
*'' Scytinium contortum''
*'' Scytinium dactylinum''
*'' Scytinium erectum''
*'' Scytinium euthallinum''
*'' Scytinium ferax''
*'' Scytinium fragile''
*'' Scytinium fragrans''
*''Scytinium gelatinosum''
*'' Scytinium imbricatum''
*'' Scytinium intermedium''
*'' Scytinium juniperinum''
*'' Scytinium kauaiense''
*'' Scytinium leptogioides''
*'' Scytinium lichenoides''
*'' Scytinium magnussonii''
*'' Scytinium massiliense''
*'' Scytinium nanum''
*'' Scytinium palmatum''
*'' Scytinium palustre''
*'' Scytinium parculum''
*'' Scytinium parvum''
*'' Scytinium platynum''
*'' Scytinium plicatile''
*'' Scytinium polycarpum''
*'' Scytinium pulvinatum''
*'' Scytinium quadrifidum''
*'' Scytinium rivale''
*'' Scytinium rogersii''
*'' Scytinium schraderi''
*'' Scytinium singulare''
*'' Scytinium siskiyouense''
*'' Scytinium subaridum''
*'' Scytinium subfragrans''
*'' Scytinium subtile''
*'' Scytinium subtorulosum''
*'' Scytinium tacomae''
*'' Scytinium tenuilobum'' – Australia
*'' Scytinium tenuissimum''
*'' Scytinium tetrasporum''
*'' Scytinium turgidum''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q23072885

Peltigerales
Taxa described in 1810
Taxa named by Erik Acharius
Peltigerales genera
Lichen genera