''Solenopsora'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

in the family

Catillariaceae The Catillariaceae are a family of crustose lichens in the order Lecanorales. Species of this family have a widespread distribution, especially in temperate areas. The family was originally circumscribed by Austrian lichenologist Josef Hafellner ...

. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution.

Taxonomy

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 center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius. Not every polyg ...

by Italian lichenologist

Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo (13 May 1824 – 25 May 1860) was an Italian paleobotanist and lichenologist. He was born in Tregnago in the Province of Verona and took a great interest in botany as a young man. Massalongo joined the faculty of med ...

in 1855, with ''

Solenopsora requienii ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' assigned as the

type species In 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 species that contains the biological type specimen ...

. However, this species had previously been described in 1840 by

Camille Montagne Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne (15 February 1784 – 5 December 1866) was a French military physician and botanist who specialized in the fields of bryology and mycology. He was born in the commune of Vaudoy in the department of Seine-et- ...

, as ''Parmelia holophaea''.

Description

''Solenopsora'' lichens produce

thalli Thallus (plural: thalli), from Latinized Greek (), meaning "a green shoot" or "twig", is the vegetative tissue of some organisms in diverse groups such as algae, fungi, some liverworts, lichens, and the Myxogastria. Many of these organisms were ...

of various morphologies, including crust-like (crustose), scaley (squamulose), and

leafy LEAFY (abbreviated LFY) is a plant gene that causes groups of undifferentiated Cell (biology), cells called meristems to develop into flowers instead of leaves with associated shoots. ''LEAFY'' is involved in floral meristem identity. ''LEAFY'' ...

(foliose). Depending on the species, the apothecia may be immersed on the substrate, emergent on the substrate surface, or somewhat elevated on a stalk (''stipitate''). A combination of microscopic characteristics define the genus ''Solenopsora''. They all have

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 ...

that contain eight spores, and are of the ''Catillaria''-type. This means that they have a prominent, amyloid tholus (the thickened inner part of the tip of an ascus) that lacks any internal differentiation such as an axial body. They have simple (i.e. unbranched)

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 fe ...

with an internal brown pigmentation and club-shaped tips. Their

ascospore An ascus (; ) is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. Each ascus usually contains eight ascospores (or octad), produced by meiosis followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some genera or s ...

s are colourless and translucent (

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none. Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is ...

), and contain a single

septum In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Human anatomy * Interatri ...

. ''

Catillaria ''Catillaria'' is a genus of crustose lichens in the family Catillariaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in 1852. It is the type genus of Catillariaceae, which was circumscribed by Austrian l ...

'' is a closely related genus that differs mainly in having a thallus that is always crustose, and apothecia with a proper margin.

Habitat and distribution

Most ''Solenopsora'' species are found in the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, Europe, western North Africa, North America, and the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

. Three species are known from Australia. Eight species occur in Europe.

Species

, Species Fungorum accepts 15 species of ''Solenopsora'': *''

Solenopsora candicans ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *''

Solenopsora cesatii ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *''

Solenopsora chihuahuana ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *'' Solenopsora cladonioides'' *'' Solenopsora cyathiformis'' *'' Solenopsora elixiana'' –

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

; La Réunion; Taiwan *'' Solenopsora grisea'' *''

Solenopsora holophaea ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *'' Solenopsora isidiata'' *'' Solenopsora liparina'' *''

Solenopsora olivacea ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' *''

'' *'' Solenopsora sordida'' – New Zealand *''

Solenopsora tasmanica ''Solenopsora'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Catillariaceae. It has 15 species, with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo in ...

'' –

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

*'' Solenopsora vulturiensis'' – Western Australia; Europe; Macaronesia

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10673162 Lecanorales Lecanorales genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 1855 Taxa named by Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo