''Phacopsis vulpina'' is a species of lichenicolous (
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.fungus in the family Parmeliaceae, and the type species of the genus ''
Phacopsis
''Phacopsis'' is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi. They are parasites of members of the large lichen family Parmeliaceae, of which they are also a member. Originally proposed by Edmond Tulasne in 1852 to contain 3 species, ''Ph ...
''. It was formally described as a new species in 1852 by French mycologist
Edmond Tulasne
Louis René Étienne Tulasne, a.k.a. Edmond Tulasne (12 September 1815 – 22 December 1885) was a French botanist and mycologist born in Azay-le-Rideau.
He originally studied law at Poitiers, but his interest later turned to botany. As a yo ...
. The fungus is restricted to the genus ''
Letharia
''Letharia'' is a genus of fruticose lichens belonging to the family Parmeliaceae.
There were historically two species of ''Letharia'': '' L. vulpina'' and '' L. columbiana''. Recent molecular sequence studies published in 2016 confirm at least ...
'' as a
host
A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it.
Host may also refer to:
Places
* Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County
People
*Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman
* Michel Host ...
and consequently has a Northern Hemisphere distribution. Externally, it is somewhat similar in appearance to '' P. lethariellae'', but ''P. vulpina'' does not have a brown hypothecium (the area of tissue in the apothecium immediately below the sub
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 ...