''Teloschistopsis'' 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

Teloschistaceae The Teloschistaceae are a large family (biology), family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class (taxonomy), class Lecanoromycetes in the division (botany), division Ascomycota. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, althoug ...

. It has three species.

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 ...

by Patrik Frödén, Ulrik Søchting, and Ulf Arup in 2013, as part of a

molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

-led restructuring of the Teloschistaceae. The genus names alludes to resemblance to the genus ''

Teloschistes ''Teloschistes'' is a genus of 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 cort ...

''. They assigned '' Teloschistopsis chrysocarpoides'' 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 ...

; This species was originally described as a member of ''Teloschistes'' by

Edvard August Vainio Edvard August Vainio (born Edvard Lang; 5 August 185314 May 1929) was a Finnish lichenology, lichenologist. His early works on the lichens of Lapland (Finland), Lapland, his three-volume monograph on the lichen genus ''Cladonia'', and, in part ...

in 1900.

Description

''Teloschistopsis'' is characterized by a leaf-like (

foliose A foliose lichen is a lichen with flat, leaf-like , which are generally not firmly bonded to the substrate on which it grows. It is one of the three most common lichen growth forms, growth forms of lichens. It typically has distinct upper and lo ...

) to shrub-like (

fruticose A fruticose lichen is a form of lichen fungi that is characterized by a coral-like shrubby or bushy lichen growth forms, growth structure. It is formed from a symbiotic relationship of a photobiont such as green algae or less commonly cyanobacteri ...

) structure. This lichen is robust, predominantly grey in colour, but can have orange spots or take on a more yellowish to orange hue. The species ''Teloschistopsis chrysocarpoides'' is particularly notable for its leaf-like structure with hair-like structures on its upper surface and a fully cracked underside that reveals its inner layer. Most other species in this genus have a rounded exterior that is usually covered with a protective layer, devoid of hair-like structures. This protective layer has a complex cellular structure (known as "scleroprosoplectechymatous") and often features large, light patches. The reproductive structures of ''Teloschistopsis'' are in form. Its spores have a unique developmental process, are generally oval in shape, and have short to medium dividing lines (

septa SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly four million people througho ...

. There are oil cells in the

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 f ...

. Additionally, the lichen has large, protruding structures () that produce spore-like cells (). These conidia are usually oval, but can sometimes appear more elongated or even rod-shaped.

Species

* '' Teloschistopsis bonae-spei'' * '' Teloschistopsis chrysocarpoides'' * '' Teloschistopsis eudoxa''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q25935098 Teloschistales Teloschistales genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 2013 Taxa named by Ulrik Søchting Taxa named by Patrik Frödén Taxa named by Ulf Arup