''Solenopsora'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of lichen-forming

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

in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution.

Taxonomy

The genus was

circumscribed In geometry, the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of a polygon is a circle that passes through all the vertices of the polygon. The center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius. Not every po ...

by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in 1855, with '' Solenopsora requienii'' assigned as the

type species In 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 species that contains the biological type specimen( ...

. However, this species had previously been described in 1840 by

Camille Montagne Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne (15 February 1784 – 5 December 1866) was a French military physician and botanist who specialized in the fields of bryology and mycology. He was born in the commune of Vaudoy in the department of Seine-et ...

, as ''Parmelia holophaea''.

Description

''Solenopsora'' lichens produce thalli of various morphologies, including crust-like (crustose), scaley (squamulose), and

leafy LEAFY (abbreviated LFY) is a plant gene that causes groups of undifferentiated cells called meristems to develop into flowers instead of leaves with associated shoots. ''LEAFY'' is involved in floral meristem identity. ''LEAFY'' encodes a ...

(foliose). Depending on the species, the

apothecia An ascocarp, or ascoma (), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. Ascocarps are mo ...

may be immersed on the substrate, emergent on the substrate surface, or somewhat elevated on a stalk (''stipitate''). A combination of microscopic characteristics define the genus ''Solenopsora''. They all have asci that contain eight spores, and are of the ''Catillaria''-type. This means that they have a prominent,

amyloid Amyloids are aggregates of proteins characterised by a fibrillar morphology of 7–13 nm in diameter, a beta sheet (β-sheet) secondary structure (known as cross-β) and ability to be stained by particular dyes, such as Congo red. In the hu ...

tholus (the thickened inner part of the tip of an ascus) that lacks any internal differentiation such as an axial body. They have simple (i.e. unbranched)

paraphyses Paraphyses are erect sterile filament-like support structures occurring among the reproductive apparatuses of fungi, ferns, bryophytes and some thallophytes. The singular form of the word is paraphysis. In certain fungi, they are part of the fe ...

with an internal brown

pigmentation A pigment is a colored material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble, at least at some stage in their use. Generally dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic compo ...

and club-shaped tips. Their

ascospore An ascus (; ) 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 genera o ...

s are colourless and translucent (

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none. Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is ...

), and contain a single

septum In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural 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 * Interat ...

. '' Catillaria'' is a closely related genus that differs mainly in having a thallus that is always crustose, and apothecia with a proper margin.

Habitat and distribution

Most ''Solenopsora'' species are found in the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, Europe, western North Africa, North America, and the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Mo ...

. Three species are known from Australia. Eight species occur in Europe.

Species

Species Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names ( scientific names) in the fungus kingdom. the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partners along with Landcare Research and the Institute of ...

accepts 15 species of ''Solenopsora'': *'' Solenopsora candicans'' *'' Solenopsora cesatii'' *'' Solenopsora chihuahuana'' *'' Solenopsora cladonioides'' *''

Solenopsora cyathiformis ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *'' Solenopsora elixiana'' –

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

;

La Réunion LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

; Taiwan *'' Solenopsora grisea'' *''

Solenopsora holophaea ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo ...

'' *'' Solenopsora isidiata'' *'' Solenopsora liparina'' *''

Solenopsora olivacea ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *'' Solenopsora requienii'' *''

Solenopsora sordida ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo i ...

'' – New Zealand *''

Solenopsora tasmanica ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' –

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

*'' Solenopsora vulturiensis'' – Western Australia; Europe; Macaronesia

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10673162 Lecanorales Lecanorales genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 1855 Taxa named by Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo