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
C. candida
C. eungellae
C. exilis
C. inexspectata
C. rubrocincta
C. rubrocinctoides
C. scripta
...

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

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Cryptothecia
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 CRYPTOTHECIA, Flora of Australia volume 57, John A. Elix, 2009,
  2. 1 2 Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press: New Haven.
  3. ↑ Kirk MP, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA. (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi. 10th edition. Wallingford: CABI. p. 181. ISBN 0-85199-826-7.
  4. ↑ Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM. (December 2007). "Outline of Ascomycota – 2007". Myconet (Chicago, USA: The Field Museum, Department of Botany) 13: 1–58.
  5. ↑ Mors, WB. 1966. Useful Plants of Brazil. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco. Page 57.

Further reading

External links

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