Cryptothecia
| Cryptothecia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cryptothecia sp. growing on a tree in Chaco Province, northern Argentina. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Arthoniomycetes |
| Order: | Arthoniales |
| Family: | Arthoniaceae |
| Genus: | Cryptothecia Stirt. |
| Type species | |
| Cryptothecia subnidulans Stirt. | |
| Species | |
|
C. atropunctata | |
Cryptothecia is a genus of white to greenish crustose lichens that grow on bark, wood, or leaves. in tropical or subtropical areas worldwide.[1] It has a conspicuous prothallus that develops around its periphery which can be bright red in some species, hence the common name wreath lichen.[2] The main vegetative body (thallus) lacks a cortex (ecorticate and is often immersed in the substrate or byssoid (whispy, like teased wool).[1] The medulla is white, well defined, and often peppered with calcium oxalate crystals.[1] Ascomata are not well defined, being cushions of soft white mycelium immersed in the medullary tissue, hence the name from the Greek “krypto” = “to conceal” and “theke” = “a container or sheath”.[1] There are about 45 described species in the genus according to one source,[1] and 75 species according to another.[3] The genus is in the Arthoniaceae family.[4] It contains Trentepohlia, a green alga, as its photobiont ).
Two species have been described in North America.[2] At least one species, Cryptothecia rubrocincta, has been used in Brazil as a source of dye.[5]
Gallery
The Christmas wreath lichen, Cryptothecia rubrocincta
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 CRYPTOTHECIA, Flora of Australia volume 57, John A. Elix, 2009
- 1 2 Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press: New Haven.
- ↑ Kirk MP, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 181. ISBN 0-85199-826-7.
- ↑ Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM (December 2007). "Outline of Ascomycota – 2007". Myconet. Chicago, USA: The Field Museum, Department of Botany. 13: 1–58. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18.
- ↑ Mors, WB. 1966. Useful Plants of Brazil. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco. Page 57.
Further reading
- U.Makhija & P.G.Patwardhan, A contribution towards a monograph of the lichen genus Cryptothecia (family Arthoniaceae), Current Res. Pl. Sci. 1994: 57–72 (1994)
- G.Thor, The genus Cryptothecia in Australia and New Zealand and the circumscription of the genus, Symb. Bot. Upsal. 32(1): 267–289 (1997)
- R.Lücking, G.Thor, A.Aptroot, K.Kalb & J.A.Elix, The Cryptothecia candida complex revisited, Lichenologist 38: 235–240 (2006).
External links
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