''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their lobe tips, which often curl upwards and thus are visible from above. Sterile specimens that do not have apothecia can look somewhat like ''

Melanelia ''Melanelia'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. 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 cent ...

'', ''

Peltigera ''Peltigera'' is a genus of approximately 100 species of foliose lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. Commonly known as the dog or pelt lichens, species of ''Peltigera'' are often terricolous (growing on soil), but can also occur on moss, trees, ...

'', ''

Platismatia ''Platismatia'' is genus of medium to large foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. The genus is widespread and contains 11 species. They resemble many other genera of foliose lichens in the Parmeliaceae, particularly ''Parmotrema ''Parmo ...

'', or '' Asahinea''. Most species grow either on mossy ground or rocks, or on trees. All species of ''Nephroma'' contain

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blu ...

(in the genus ''

Nostoc ''Nostoc'', also known as star jelly, troll’s butter, spit of moon, fallen star, witch's butter (not to be confused with the fungi commonly known as witches' butter), and witch’s jelly, is the most common genus of cyanobacteria found in vari ...

'') as a photobiont, which allows the organism to fix nitrogen. In some species the cyanobacteria is the sole photobiont, while other species also contain a

green alga The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) have emerged deep in the Charophyte alga as ...

photobiont (''

Coccomyxa ''Coccomyxa'' is a genus of green algae The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) h ...

'') and the cyanobacteria is restricted to warty

cephalodia {{Short description, Morphological structure found in some lichens Cephalodia (singular cephalodium) are small gall-like structures found in some species of lichens that contain cyanobacterial symbionts Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living toget ...

on the upper or lower surface of the lichen.

Description

Species of ''Nephroma'' have a stratified foliose thallus with a cortex that is well-developed on both the upper and lower surfaces. The fruit bodies ( apothecia) are formed on the lower surface of the thallus, which is later curved backward to expose the

hymenium The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some ...

(spore-bearing surface). Initially, the ascomata are immersed with a vegetative covering that splits open at later stages of development. In contrast to all other groups of Peltigerales, the

asci ASCI or Asci may refer to: * Advertising Standards Council of India * Asci, the plural of ascus, in fungal anatomy * Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative * American Society for Clinical Investigation * Argus Sour Crude Index * Association of ...

of ''Nephroma'' have neither a gelatinous coat nor an

iodine Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid at standard conditions that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...

-positive apical ring. The brown ascospores are elongated, and have a crosswise partition (septa). Reproductive structures called soredia, isidia, or lobules are present in most species.

Species

*''

Nephroma arcticum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma australe ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma bellum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma cellulosum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma expallidum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma flavorhizinatum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *''

Nephroma helveticum ''Nephroma'' is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their ...

'' *'' Nephroma laevigatum'' *''

Nephroma parile ''Nephroma parile'' is a species of foliose lichen belonging to the family Peltigeraceae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most o ...

'' *'' Nephroma resupinatum'' *'' Nephroma rufum'' *'' Nephroma subhelveticum'' *'' Nephroma tangeriense''

Uses

Several species of ''Nephroma'' are restricted to pristine, old growth forests, and thus are important

indicator species A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other sma ...

that have already influenced some forest management decisions. ''Nephroma occultum'' is listed as vulnerable in Canada by COSEWIC. One species of ''Nephroma'' has been found to produce a brown dye, while another is recorded as being used in Scotland to produce a blue dye for wool. ''Nephroma arcticum'' is called ''kusskoak'' by the Yup’ik of Alaska, and it is traditionally eaten after being boiled with crushed fish eggs. A medicinal tea is also made from the lichen, and is reputed to be a powerful medicine to return strength to a person who is in a weak condition. ''N. arcticum'' contains several antifreeze proteins that have been patented by the Dutch multinational corporation Unilever for their ability to modify the growth of ice crystals; these proteins have been used to improve the texture of low-fat ice cream.

References

{{Authority control Lichen genera Peltigerales Taxa named by Erik Acharius Peltigerales genera Taxa described in 1810