''Sticta'' 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.Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' species with

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 ...

as photobionts can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, and due to their relative abundance and high turnover, they contribute appreciably to the

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

ecosystem. They are commonly called spotted felt lichens.

Description

The vegetative bodies of the ''Sticta'', the

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 ...

, are foliose, or leafy in appearance. They typically have dimensions of in diameter, although specimens with diameters of up to have been recorded. The lobes are rounded, and the upper surface is black or brown, while the lower surface has a light to dark brown layer of fine hairs (a ), with a few craters, called . Thalli often smell of shrimp or fish. The vegetative reproductive structures called

isidia An isidium is a vegetative reproductive structure present in some lichens. Isidia are outgrowths of the thallus surface, and are corticated (i.e., containing the outermost layer of the thallus), usually with a columnar structure, and consisting o ...

or soredia are often present on species in this genus; apothecia (cup-shaped spore-bearing structures) are rarely found. ''Sticta'' species are usually found growing on bark, wood, or mossy rock.

Distribution and habitat

''Sticta'' species are primarily

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

in distribution, but some species have been reported from as north as Norway, and as far south as the southern tip of South America. Most species of ''Sticta'' grow on bark, wood, or mossy rock, usually in humid areas.

Phylogenetics

Phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

analysis of small and large

ribosomal RNA Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA which is the primary component of ribosomes, essential to all cells. rRNA is a ribozyme which carries out protein synthesis in ribosomes. Ribosomal RNA is transcribed from ribosomal ...

subunits has confirmed that the genus ''Sticta'' is

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

Indicators of ecological continuity

Some

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

lichen species may be used as "ancient woodland indicators"; they can used to quantitatively assess the degree to which a forest has had a long history of canopy continuity. The presence of these species is a reliable indicator that the forest has existed back to early medieval times, without being

clear-cut Clearcutting, clearfelling or clearcut logging is a forestry/ logging practice in which most or all trees in an area are uniformly cut down. Along with shelterwood and seed tree harvests, it is used by foresters to create certain types of fore ...

and regrown. Two ''Sticta'' species, namely, ''S. dufournii'' or the blue-green algal

morphotype In biology, polymorphism is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative ''phenotypes'', in the population of a species. To be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the s ...

''S. canariensis'', are among several species of lichens that may be used to calculate the New Index of Ecological Continuity (NIEC), considered the most sensitive and accurate determination of forest continuity.

Bioactive compounds

A comprehensive comparative study on the antioxidant activity of lichens from Hawaii and Iceland revealed the Hawaiian lichen ''S. weigelii'' to be a potent producer of antioxidative compounds.

Species

*''

Sticta acyphellata ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – Hawaii *''

Sticta alpinotropica ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – Papua New Guinea *''

Sticta antoniana ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – Hawaii *''

Sticta aongstroemii ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – Brazil *'' Sticta arachnofuliginosa'' – Colombia *''

Sticta arbuscula ''Sticta arbuscula'' is a species of foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. Found in the South American Andes, it was formally described by Bibiana Moncada and Robert Lücking in 2012. The type specimen was collected in Chingaza National ...

'' – Colombia *'' Sticta arbusculotomentosa'' *'' Sticta atlantica'' – Europe *'' Sticta atroandensis'' – Colombia *'' Sticta baileyi'' – Australia *'' Sticta borinquensis'' – Puerto Rico *''

Sticta brevior ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' – Colombia *'' Sticta brevipes'' *'' Sticta caliginosa'' *'' Sticta camarae'' *'' Sticta canariensis'' *''

Sticta caperata ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *'' Sticta carolinensis'' *'' Sticta ciliata'' – Neotropics; Africa; Macaronesia; Western Europe *'' Sticta corymbosa'' – Puerto Rico *'' Sticta cyphellulata'' *'' Sticta dendroides'' *'' Sticta densiphyllidiata'' – Puerto Rico *'' Sticta deyana'' – North America *'' Sticta diversa'' *'' Sticta duplolimbata'' *'' Sticta emmanueliana'' – Hawaii *'' Sticta filix'' *'' Sticta flavireagens'' *'' Sticta flavocyphellata'' – Australia *'' Sticta flynnii'' – Hawaii *'' Sticta fragilinata'' *'' Sticta fuliginoides'' – Continental Europe;

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 ...

; eastern North America; Colombia *'' Sticta fuliginosa'' – widespread *'' Sticta fuscotomentosa'' *'' Sticta gallowayana'' *'' Sticta globulifuliginosa'' *'' Sticta guilartensis'' – Puerto Rico *''

Sticta harrisii ''Sticta harrisii'' is a species of foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. Found in Puerto Rico, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by Joel Mercado‐Díaz, Bibiana Moncada, and Robert Lücking The type specimen was collec ...

'' – Puerto Rico *'' Sticta hawaiiensis'' – Hawaii *'' Sticta hirsutifuliginosa'' *''

Sticta howei ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' – Australia *'' Sticta humboldtii'' *'' Sticta hypopsiloides'' *''

Sticta indica ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' – India *'' Sticta isidiokunthii'' – Colombia *''

Sticta jaguirreana ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *'' Sticta laciniosa'' *'' Sticta latifrons'' *'' Sticta leucoblephara'' *'' Sticta limbata'' *'' Sticta lobarioides'' *''

Sticta lumbschiana ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – Colombia *'' Sticta macrocyphellata'' – Colombia *'' Sticta macrofuliginosa'' *''

Sticta macrothallina ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *'' Sticta maculofuliginosa'' – Colombia *'' Sticta marginifera'' *'' Sticta martinii'' – New Zealand *'' Sticta mexicana'' *'' Sticta microcyphellata'' – Colombia *'' Sticta minutula'' *''

Sticta myrioloba ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' – Australia *'' Sticta nashii'' *'' Sticta neopulmonarioides'' *''

Sticta papillata ''Sticta papillata'' is a species of foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. Found in Colombia, it was formally described by Bibiana Moncada and Robert Lücking in 2012. The type specimen was collected in the páramo of Villapinzón ( Cundi ...

'' – Colombia *'' Sticta parahumboldtii'' – Colombia *'' Sticta parvilobata'' – Puerto Rico *'' Sticta pedunculata'' *'' Sticta phyllidiifuliginosa'' *'' Sticta phyllidiokunthii'' *'' Sticta plumbeociliata'' *'' Sticta pseudohumboldtii'' – Colombia *'' Sticta pseudolobaria'' *'' Sticta pulmonarioides'' *''

Sticta riparia ''Sticta riparia'' is a species of foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. Found in Puerto Rico, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by Joel Mercado‐Díaz and Robert Lücking. The type specimen was collected by the first au ...

'' – Puerto Rico *'' Sticta rhizinata'' – Colombia *'' Sticta rubropruinosa'' – Colombia *'' Sticta rutilans'' *''

Sticta sayeri ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *''

Sticta silverstonei ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' – Colombia *'' Sticta sinuosa'' *'' Sticta smithii'' – Hawaii *'' Sticta stipitata'' *'' Sticta subfilicinella'' *'' Sticta sublimbata'' *'' Sticta subtomentella'' *''

Sticta swartzii ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *''

Sticta sylvatica ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' – continental Europe; Andes (Colombia) *'' Sticta tainorum'' – Puerto Rico *''

Sticta tatamana ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta' ...

'' *'' Sticta tesselata'' *''

Sticta torii ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

'' *'' Sticta tunjensis'' – Colombia *'' Sticta variabilis'' *'' Sticta venosa'' *'' Sticta viviana'' – Colombia *'' Sticta waikamoi'' – Hawaii *''

Sticta xanthotropa ''Sticta'' is a genus of lichens in the family Peltigeraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical areas, and includes about 114 species. These lichens have a leafy appearance, and are colored brown or black. ''Sticta'' ...

References

Cited literature

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q7616341 Peltigerales genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 1791 Taxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber