The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to lichens.

An intricately branched, pale green lichen hangs from a branch.
Usnea filipendula – one of about 20,000 described species of lichen

Lichencomposite organism made up of multiple species – a fungal partner, one or more photosynthetic partners, which can be either green algae or cyanobacteria, and, in at least 52 genera of lichens, a yeast.[1] In American English, "lichen" is pronounced the same as the verb "liken" (/ˈlkən/). In British English, both this pronunciation and one rhyming with "kitchen" (/ˈlɪən/) are used.[2]

What type of thing is a lichen? edit

A lichen can be described as all of the following:

  • Composite organism – a symbiotic life form composed of multiple partners from different biological domains, families and kingdoms, and from different phyla, classes and divisions within those domains and kingdoms. In the case of lichens, a fungal partner (the mycobiont) combines with one or more photosynthetic partner(s) (the photobiont) as well as (in some cases) a yeast.
  • Eukaryote (domain) – organisms with a cell nucleus within a nuclear envelope; both the mycobiont and any algal partners fall into this domain.[3]
  • Fungi (kingdom) – the fungal partner and any yeast partner fall into this kingdom.[1]
  • For the biological classes and families these fungi belong to, see below.
  • Prokaryote (domain) – organisms without a cell nucleus; any cyanobacterial partner falls into this domain.[3]

Nature of lichens edit

 
Schematic cross section of foliose lichen:
(a) The cortex is the outer layer of tightly woven fungal filaments (hyphae)
(b) This photobiont layer has photosynthesizing green algae
(c) Loosely packed hyphae in the medulla
(d) A tightly woven lower cortex
(e) Anchoring hyphae called rhizines, where the fungus attaches to the substrate

Morphology edit

  • Apoplast – the symbiotic interface zone between the mycobiont and photobiont, outside the cell membranes or walls of both.[8]
  • Haustorium (pl. haustoria) – a root-like structure which allows the fungal partner to extract nutrients from its photosynthetic partner(s).[9]
  • Lichen morphology – a lichen's external appearance and structures are very different than those of its individual partners.[10]
  • Ascocarp – the fruiting body of a lichen, which contains the asci.[11]
  • Ascus (pl. asci) – a sexual, fungal spore-bearing structure, typically sac-like in shape.[12]
  • Ascospore – a fungal spore, the product of meiosis, produced in an ascus.[13]
  • Epispore – a transparent bag-like outer covering on some spores,[9] which helps to determine spore shape.[14]
  • Cephalodium (pl. cephalodia) – a gall-like structure that contains cyanobacteria[15]
  • Hypha (pl. hyphae) – a long, branching, thread-like structure composed of one or more fungal cells, which typically makes up a large part of lichens; hyphae are densely compacted in the cortex and more loosely interwoven in the medulla.[16]
  • Pycnidium (pl. pycnidia) – a flask-shaped, asexual fruiting body possessed by some lichens.[17]
  • Conidium (pl. conidia) – an asexual fungal spore produced in pycnidia by some lichens.[18]
  • Rhizine – a root-like structure that anchors a lichen to the substrate on which it grows.[19]
  • Soralium (pl. soralia) – a localized region or structure, typically a crack or pore, containing soredium.[20]
  • Soredium (pl. soredia) – asexual reproductive propagules composed of loose clumps of fungal hyphae and photobiont cells, produced in soralia.[20]
  • Thallus (pl. thalli) – the vegetative body of a lichen, made up of both mycobiont and photobiont components.[21]
  • Cortex – the lichen's outer layer(s), made up of tightly woven fungal filaments.[22]
  • Isidium (pl. isidia) – outgrowths of the thallus which contain photobiont cells and provide means of vegetative reproduction for some lichens.[23]
  • Medulla – a loose layer of interwoven fungal hyphae within the thallus.[24]
  • Podetium (pl. podetia) – an upright secondary thallus, which supports the fruiting bodies of Cladonia species.[25]

Ecology edit

 
Lichens with a cyanobacteria as the photosynthetic partner, like this Peltigera collina, can fix nitrogen.[26]

Types of lichens edit

Lichen lists edit

Lichen taxonomical classifications edit

 
Chaenotheca brunneola falls into Coniocybomycetes, a small fungal class which contains only a handful of lichen species.[34]

Lichen systematics – Although they are composite organisms, lichens have traditionally been classified on the basis of their fungal partner. These span eight different biological classes, 39 orders, 117 families, and around 1,000 genera.[34][35]

Classes edit

Lichens fall into eight fungal classes and several subclasses:[38]

Orders edit

 
Lecidella elaeochroma is a member of Lecanorales, the fungal order which contains the greatest number of lichen species.[38]

They are split across nearly 40 orders. Those which cannot be assigned to a particular order are assigned instead to "incertae sedis" within the appropriate class. These orders were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted,[38] with orders updated in 2021.[34]

Families edit

They fall into 117 families. Those which cannot be assigned to a particular family are assigned instead to "incertae sedis" within the appropriate order. These were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted;[35] families were updated in 2021.[34]

  1. Acarosporaceae
  2. Agyriaceae
  3. Andreiomycetaceae
  4. Aphanopsidaceae
  5. Arctomiaceae
  6. Arthoniaceae
  7. Arthrorhaphidaceae
  8. Atheliaceae
  9. Baeomycetaceae
  10. Biatorellaceae
  11. Brigantiaeaceae
  12. Caliciaceae
  13. Cameroniaceae
  14. Candelariaceae
  15. Carbonicolaceae
  16. Catillariaceae
  17. Celotheliaceae
  18. Chrysotrichaceae
  19. Cladoniaceae
  20. Clavulinaceae
  21. Coccocarpiaceae
  22. Coccotremataceae
  23. Coenogoniaceae
  24. Collemataceae
  25. Coniocybaceae
  26. Corticiaceae
  27. Cystocoleaceae
  28. Dacampiaceae
  29. Dactylosporaceae
  30. Elixiaceae
  31. Fuscideaceae[41]
  32. Gloeoheppiaceae
  33. Gomphillaceae
  34. Graphidaceae
  35. Gyalectaceae
  36. Gypsoplacaceae
  37. Haematommataceae
  38. Harpidiaceae[42]
  39. Helocarpaceae
  40. Hygrophoraceae
  41. Hymeneliaceae
  42. Icmadophilaceae
  43. Koerberiaceae
  44. Lecanographaceae
  45. Lecanoraceae
  46. Lecideaceae
  47. Lepidostromataceae
  48. Leprocaulaceae
  49. Letrouitiaceae
  50. Lichinaceae
  51. Lopadiaceae
  52. Lyrommataceae
  53. Malmideaceae
  54. Massalongiaceae
  55. Megalariaceae
  56. Megalosporaceae
  57. Megasporaceae
  58. Melaspileaceae
  59. Microtheliopsidaceae
  60. Monoblastiaceae
  61. Mycoporaceae
  62. Nephromataceae
  63. Ochrolechiaceae
  64. Opegraphaceae
  65. Ophioparmaceae
  66. Pachyascaceae
  67. Pannariaceae
  68. Parmeliaceae
  69. Peltigeraceae
  70. Peltulaceae
  71. Pertusariaceae
  72. Phaneromycetaceae[41][43]
  73. Phlyctidaceae
  74. Physciaceae
  75. Pilocarpaceae
  76. Placynthiaceae
  77. Protothelenellaceae
  78. Psilolechiaceae
  79. Psoraceae
  80. Pycnoraceae
  81. Pyrenotrichaceae
  82. Pyrenulaceae
  83. Ramalinaceae
  84. Ramboldiaceae
  85. Redonographaceae[41]
  86. Requienellaceae
  87. Rhizocarpaceae
  88. Roccellaceae
  89. Roccellographaceae
  90. Ropalosporaceae
  91. Sagiolechiaceae
  92. Sarrameanaceae
  93. Schaereriaceae
  94. Scoliciosporaceae
  95. Sphaerophoraceae
  96. Sporastatiaceae
  97. Stereocaulaceae
  98. Stictidaceae
  99. Strangosporaceae
  100. Strigulaceae
  101. Teloschistaceae
  102. Tenuitholiascaceae[44][45]
  103. Tephromelataceae
  104. Thelenellaceae
  105. Thelocarpaceae
  106. Thrombiaceae
  107. Trapeliaceae
  108. Trichosphaeriaceae[42]
  109. Trichotheliaceae[41]
  110. Trypetheliaceae
  111. Umbilicariaceae
  112. Vahliellaceae
  113. Varicellariaceae
  114. Verrucariaceae
  115. Vezdaeaceae
  116. Xanthopyreniaceae
  117. Xylographaceae

Genera edit

Extant lichens are found in more than 1000 genera. These were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted.[35]

  1. Absconditella
  2. Acantholichen
  3. Acanthothecis
  4. Acanthotrema
  5. Acarospora
  6. Acarosporina
  7. Aciculopsora
  8. Acolium
  9. Acrocordia
  10. Acroscyphus
  11. Actinoplaca
  12. Adelolecia
  13. Aderkomyces
  14. Aggregatorygma
  15. Agonimia
  16. Ahtiana
  17. Ainoa
  18. Albemarlea[46]
  19. Alectoria
  20. Allantoparmelia
  21. Allocalicium
  22. Allocetraria
  23. Allographa[47]
  24. Allophoron[42]
  25. Alyxoria
  26. Amandinea
  27. Amazonomyces
  28. Amazonotrema
  29. Ameliella
  30. Amphorothecium
  31. Ampliotrema
  32. Amundsenia
  33. Amygdalaria
  34. Amylora
  35. Anamylopsora
  36. Anaptychia
  37. Ancistrosporella
  38. Andina[48]
  39. Andreiomyces
  40. Anema
  41. Angiactis
  42. Anisomeridium
  43. Anomalographis
  44. Anomomorpha
  45. Antennulariella
  46. Anthracocarpon
  47. Anthracothecium
  48. Anzia
  49. Anzina
  50. Apatoplaca
  51. Aphanopsis
  52. Aplanocalenia
  53. Aptrootia
  54. Aquacidia[49]
  55. Architrypethelium
  56. Arctocetraria
  57. Arctomia
  58. Arctoparmelia
  59. Argopsis
  60. Aridoplaca[50]
  61. Arrhenia
  62. Arthonia (list)
  63. Arthopyrenia
  64. Arthotheliopsis
  65. Arthothelium
  66. Arthrorhaphis
  67. Arthrosporum
  68. Asahinea
  69. Aspicilia
  70. Aspiciliopsis
  71. Aspidothelium
  72. Aspilidea
  73. Asteristion
  74. Asteroporum
  75. Asterothyrium
  76. Astrochapsa
  77. Astrothelium
  78. Athallia
  79. Athelopsis
  80. Atla
  81. Atrophysma[51]
  82. Aulaxina
  83. Auriculora
  84. Australiaena
  85. Australidea[52]
  86. Austrella
  87. Austrographa
  88. Austrolecia
  89. Austromelanelixia[53][54]
  90. Austroparmelina
  91. Austropeltum
  92. Austroplaca
  93. Austroroccella
  94. Austrotrema
  95. Awasthia
  96. Awasthiella
  97. Bacidia
  98. Bacidina
  99. Bacidiopsora
  100. Bactrospora
  101. Baculifera
  102. Badimia
  103. Badimiella
  104. Baeomyces
  105. Baflavia
  106. Bagliettoa
  107. Bahianora
  108. Baidera[55]
  109. Bapalmuia
  110. Bartlettiella
  111. Barubria
  112. Bathelium
  113. Bellemerea
  114. Biatora
  115. Biatorella
  116. Biatoridium
  117. Bibbya[56]
  118. Bilimbia
  119. Blastenia
  120. Blastodesmia
  121. Blennothallia
  122. Bogoriella
  123. Boreoplaca
  124. Borinquenotrema
  125. Botryolepraria
  126. Bouvetiella
  127. Brasilicia
  128. Brianaria
  129. Brigantiaea
  130. Brodoa
  131. Brownliella
  132. Bryobilimbia
  133. Bryocaulon
  134. Bryodina
  135. Bryogomphus
  136. Bryonora
  137. Bryoplaca
  138. Bryoria
  139. Bryostigma
  140. Buellia (list)
  141. Buelliastrum
  142. Bulbothrix
  143. Bunodophoron
  144. Burrowsia[57]
  145. Byssolecania
  146. Byssoloma
  147. Byssotrema
  148. Caeruleum
  149. Calathaspis
  150. Calenia
  151. Caleniopsis
  152. Calicium
  153. Callome
  154. Calogaya
  155. Calopadia
  156. Calopadiopsis
  157. Caloplaca (list)
  158. Calotrichopsis
  159. Calvitimela
  160. Calycidium
  161. Cameronia
  162. Candelaria
  163. Candelariella
  164. Candelina
  165. Canoparmelia
  166. Caprettia
  167. Carassea
  168. Carbacanthographis
  169. Carbonicola
  170. Catapyrenium
  171. Catarrhospora
  172. Catarraphia
  173. Catenarina
  174. Catillaria
  175. Catillochroma
  176. Catinaria
  177. Catolechia
  178. Cecidonia
  179. Celothelium
  180. Cenozosia
  181. Cephalophysis
  182. Cerothallia
  183. Cetradonia
  184. Cetraria
  185. Cetrariella
  186. Cetrelia
  187. Cetreliopsis
  188. Chaenotheca
  189. Chapsa
  190. Charcotiana
  191. Cheiromycina
  192. Chiodecton
  193. Chirleja
  194. Chrismofulvea
  195. Chromatochlamys
  196. Chroodiscus
  197. Chrysothrix
  198. Cinnabaria[58]
  199. Ciposia
  200. Circinaria
  201. Cladia
  202. Cladidium
  203. Claurouxia
  204. Cladonia (list)
  205. Clandestinotrema
  206. Clathroporina
  207. Clauzadea
  208. Clauzadeana
  209. Clauzadella
  210. Clavascidium
  211. Cliostomum
  212. Clypeopyrenis
  213. Coccocarpia
  214. Coccotrema
  215. Coelopogon
  216. Coenogonium
  217. Collema
  218. Collemopsidium
  219. Combea
  220. Compositrema
  221. Compsocladium
  222. Coniangium
  223. Coniarthonia
  224. Coniocarpon
  225. Conotremopsis
  226. Constrictolumina
  227. Coppinsia
  228. Coppinsidea[59]
  229. Cora
  230. Corella
  231. Coronoplectrum
  232. Cornicularia
  233. Corticorygma
  234. Corynecystis
  235. Coscinocladium
  236. Cratiria
  237. Creographa
  238. Crespoa
  239. Cresponea
  240. Cresporhaphis[42]
  241. Crocellina
  242. Crocodia
  243. Crocynia
  244. Cruentotrema
  245. Crustospathula
  246. Crutarndina
  247. Cryptodictyon
  248. Cryptodiscus
  249. Crypthonia
  250. Cryptophaea
  251. Cryptothecia
  252. Cryptothele
  253. Culbersonia
  254. Cyanoporina
  255. Cyphelium
  256. Cyphellostereum
  257. Cyphobasidium
  258. Cystocoleus
  259. Dacampia
  260. Dactylina
  261. Davidgallowaya
  262. Degelia
  263. Dendriscosticta
  264. Dendrographa
  265. Dermatiscum
  266. Dermatocarpon
  267. Dermiscellum
  268. Diaphorographis
  269. Dibaeis
  270. Dichosporidium
  271. Dictyocatenulata
  272. Dictyographa
  273. Dictyomeridium
  274. Dictyonema
  275. Digitothyrea
  276. Dijigiella[60][61]
  277. Dimelaena
  278. Dimidiographa
  279. Diorygma
  280. Diploicia
  281. Diploschistella
  282. Diploschistes
  283. Diplotomma
  284. Dirinaria
  285. Dirina
  286. Dirinastrum
  287. Diromma
  288. Distopyrenis
  289. Distothelia
  290. Dolichocarpus
  291. Dolichousnea[62][54]
  292. Ducatina[63][64]
  293. Dufourea
  294. Dyplolabia
  295. Echidnocymbium
  296. Echinoplaca
  297. Edrudia
  298. Edwardiella
  299. Eiglera
  300. Eilifdahlia
  301. Elixia
  302. Elixjohnia[65][61]
  303. Emmanuelia[66]
  304. Emodomelanelia
  305. Encephalographa
  306. Enchylium
  307. Endocarpon
  308. Endocena
  309. Endohyalina
  310. Enterodictyon
  311. Enterographa
  312. Epilichen
  313. Enigmotrema
  314. Eopyrenula
  315. Ephebe
  316. Eremastrella
  317. Eremithallus
  318. Eremothecella
  319. Erinacellus
  320. Erioderma
  321. Ertzia
  322. Erythrodecton
  323. Eschatogonia
  324. Esslingeriana
  325. Eugeniella
  326. Eumitria[62][54]
  327. Euopsis
  328. Evernia
  329. Everniopsis
  330. Farnoldia
  331. Fauriea
  332. Feigeana
  333. Felipes
  334. Fellhanera
  335. Fellhaneropsis
  336. Ferraroa
  337. Fibrillithecis
  338. Filsoniana
  339. Finkia
  340. Fissurina
  341. Flabelloporina[67]
  342. Flakea
  343. Flavobathelium
  344. Flavocetraria
  345. Flavoparmelia
  346. Flavoplaca
  347. Flavopunctelia
  348. Flegographa
  349. Fluctua
  350. Follmannia
  351. Follmanniella
  352. Fominiella[68]
  353. Fouragea
  354. Franwilsia
  355. Frigidopyrenia
  356. Frutidella
  357. Fulgidea
  358. Fulvophyton
  359. Fuscidea
  360. Fuscoderma
  361. Fuscopannaria
  362. Gabura[42]
  363. Gassicurtia
  364. Geisleria
  365. Gibbosporina
  366. Gintarasia
  367. Gintarasiella[69]
  368. Glaucotrema
  369. Gloeheppia
  370. Glomerilla
  371. Glomerulophoron
  372. Glyphis
  373. Glypholecia
  374. Glyphopeltis
  375. Glyphopsis
  376. Glysoplaca
  377. Gomphillus
  378. Gondwania
  379. Gorgadesia
  380. Gossypiothallon
  381. Gowardia
  382. Granulopyrenis
  383. Graphidastra
  384. Graphis
  385. Gregorella
  386. Gudelia
  387. Gyalecta
  388. Gyalectaria
  389. Gyalectidium
  390. Gyalidea
  391. Gyalideopsis
  392. Gyalolechia
  393. Gymnoderma
  394. Gymnographa
  395. Gymnographopsis
  396. Gyrocollema
  397. Gyrographa
  398. Gyronactis
  399. Gyrotrema
  400. Haematomma
  401. Halecania
  402. Halegrapha
  403. Halographis
  404. Haloplaca
  405. Hanstrassia[70]
  406. Haplodina
  407. Haploloma
  408. Harpidium
  409. Harusavskia[71]
  410. Heiomasia
  411. Helicobolomyces[72][73]
  412. Helminthocarpon
  413. Helocarpon
  414. Hemithecium
  415. Henrica
  416. Heppia
  417. Heppsora
  418. Herpothallon
  419. Hertella
  420. Herteliana
  421. Hertelidea
  422. Heterocarpon
  423. Heterocyphelium
  424. Heterodermia
  425. Heteromyces
  426. Heteroplacidium
  427. Himantormia
  428. Hippocrepidea
  429. Homothecium
  430. Hormosphaeria
  431. Hosseusia
  432. Hosseusiella[74]
  433. Huea
  434. Hueidea
  435. Huneckia
  436. Hydropunctaria
  437. Hymenelia
  438. Hyperphyscia
  439. Hypocenomyce
  440. Hypoflavia
  441. Hypogymnia
  442. Hypotrachyna
  443. Icmadophila
  444. Igneoplaca
  445. Ikaeria[75]
  446. Immersaria
  447. Imshaugia
  448. Ingaderia
  449. Ingvariella
  450. Inoderma
  451. Involucropyrenium
  452. Ionaspis
  453. Ioplaca
  454. Isalonactis
  455. Jamesiella
  456. Japewia
  457. Japewiella
  458. Jarmania
  459. Jasonhuria
  460. Jenmania
  461. Joergensenia
  462. Josefpoeltia
  463. Julella[42]
  464. Kaernefeltia
  465. Kaernefia
  466. Kalbiana
  467. Kalbionora[76][77]
  468. Kalbographa
  469. Kashiwadia
  470. Kantvilasia
  471. Klauskalbia[78]
  472. Knightiella[42]
  473. Koerberia
  474. Koerberiella
  475. Krogia
  476. Kroswia
  477. Kuettlingeria
  478. Kurokawia[79]
  479. Labyrintha
  480. Lambiella
  481. Lasallia
  482. Lasioloma
  483. Lathagrium
  484. Lazarenkoella
  485. Lecanactis
  486. Lecania
  487. Lecanographa
  488. Lecanora (list)
  489. Lecidea (list)
  490. Lecidella
  491. Lecidoma
  492. Lecidopyrenopsis
  493. Leciophysma
  494. Leifidium
  495. Leightoniella
  496. Leimonis
  497. Leioderma
  498. Leiorreuma
  499. Lemmopsis
  500. Lempholemma
  501. Lendemeriella
  502. Lepidocollema
  503. Lepidostroma
  504. Lepra
  505. Leprantha
  506. Lepraria
  507. Leprocaulon
  508. Leprocollema
  509. Leproplaca
  510. Leptochidium
  511. Leptogidium
  512. Leptogium
  513. Leptorhaphis
  514. Leptotrema
  515. Letharia
  516. Lethariella
  517. Letrouitia
  518. Leucodecton
  519. Leucodermia
  520. Lichenomphalia
  521. Lichina
  522. Lichinella
  523. Lichinodium
  524. Lignoscripta
  525. Lithoglypha
  526. Lithographa
  527. Lithogyalideopsis
  528. Lithothelium
  529. Llimonaea
  530. Lobaria
  531. Lobariella
  532. Lobarina
  533. Lobothallia
  534. Loekoesia
  535. Loflammia
  536. Loflammiopsis
  537. Logilvia
  538. Lopacidia
  539. Lopadium
  540. Lopezaria
  541. Loxospora
  542. Loxosporopsis
  543. Lueckingia
  544. Lyromma
  545. Magmopsis
  546. Malcolmiella
  547. Malmidea
  548. Malmographina
  549. Mangoldia
  550. Marcelaria
  551. Marchandiomphalina
  552. Marchantiana
  553. Marfloraea
  554. Maronea
  555. Maronella
  556. Maronina[62][80]
  557. Masonhalea
  558. Massalongia
  559. Mastodia
  560. Mawsonia
  561. Mazaediothecium
  562. Mazosia
  563. Megalaria
  564. Megaloblastenia
  565. Megalospora
  566. Megalotremis
  567. Megaspora
  568. Melanelia
  569. Melanelixia
  570. Melanohalea
  571. Melanolecia
  572. Melanophloea
  573. Melanotopelia
  574. Melanotrema
  575. Melarthonis
  576. Melaspilea
  577. Menegazzia (list)
  578. Meridianelia
  579. Metamelanea
  580. Metus
  581. Micarea
  582. Microtheliopsis
  583. Milospium
  584. Miltidea
  585. Minksia
  586. Miriquidica
  587. Mischoblastia
  588. Mobergia
  589. Monerolechia
  590. Monoblastia
  591. Montanelia
  592. Moriola
  593. Multiclavula
  594. Multisporidea[81]
  595. Mycobilimbia
  596. Mycoblastus
  597. Mycoporum
  598. Myelochroa
  599. Myeloconis
  600. Myelorrhiza
  601. Myriolecis
  602. Myrionora
  603. Myriospora
  604. Myriostigma
  605. Myochroidea
  606. Nadvornikia
  607. Nebularia
  608. Neobrownliella[82]
  609. Neocatapyrenium
  610. Neophyllis
  611. Neopsoromopsis
  612. Neosergipea
  613. Nephroma
  614. Nephromopsis
  615. Nevesia
  616. Niebla
  617. Nigrovothelium
  618. Nipponoparmelia
  619. Nitidochapsa
  620. Nodobryoria
  621. Normandina
  622. Notocladonia
  623. Notolecidea
  624. Notoparmelia
  625. Novomicrothelia
  626. Nyungwea
  627. Obscuroplaca[83]
  628. Ocellomma
  629. Ocellularia (list)
  630. Ochrolechia
  631. Oevstedalia
  632. Olegblumia
  633. Oletheriostrigula
  634. Omphalodium
  635. Omphalora
  636. Opegrapha
  637. Opeltia[84]
  638. Ophioparma
  639. Orceolina
  640. Orcularia
  641. Orientophila
  642. Oropogon
  643. Orphniospora
  644. Oxnerella
  645. Pachnolepia
  646. Pachyascus
  647. Pachypeltis
  648. Pachyphysis
  649. Palicella
  650. Pallidogramme
  651. Pannaria
  652. Pannoparmelia
  653. Parabagliettoa
  654. Paracollema
  655. Paragyalideopsis[85][86]
  656. Paraingaderia
  657. Parainoa
  658. Paraporpidia
  659. Paraschismatomma
  660. Parasiphula
  661. Paratopeliopsis
  662. Paratricharia
  663. Parmelia
  664. Parmeliella
  665. Parmelina
  666. Parmelinella
  667. Parmeliopsis
  668. Parmostictina
  669. Parmotrema (list)
  670. Parmotremopsis
  671. Parvoplaca
  672. Paulia
  673. Peccania
  674. Pectenia
  675. Peltigera
  676. Peltula
  677. Peltularia
  678. Pentagenella
  679. Pertusaria (list)
  680. Petractis
  681. Phaeographis
  682. Phaeographopsis
  683. Phaeophyscia
  684. Phaeorrhiza
  685. Phloeopeccania
  686. Phlyctis
  687. Phoebus
  688. Phylliscidium
  689. Phyllisciella
  690. Phylliscidiopsis
  691. Phylliscum
  692. Phyllobaeis
  693. Phyllobathelium
  694. Phylloblastia
  695. Phyllocratera
  696. Phyllogyalidea
  697. Phyllopsora
  698. Physcia
  699. Physcidia
  700. Physciella
  701. Physconia
  702. Physma
  703. Piccolia
  704. Pilophorus
  705. Placidiopsis
  706. Placidium
  707. Placocarpus
  708. Placolecis
  709. Placomaronea
  710. Placopsis
  711. Placopyrenium
  712. Placothelium
  713. Placynthiella
  714. Placynthiopsis
  715. Placynthium
  716. Platismatia
  717. Platygramme
  718. Platythecium
  719. Plectocarpon
  720. Pleopsidium
  721. Pleurosticta
  722. Pliariona
  723. Podostictina
  724. Podotara
  725. Poeltiaria
  726. Poeltidea
  727. Poeltinula
  728. Polistroma
  729. Polyblastia
  730. Polyblastidium
  731. Polycauliona
  732. Polychidium
  733. Polymeridium
  734. Polypyrenula
  735. Polysporina
  736. Porina
  737. Porocyphus
  738. Porpidia
  739. Porpidinia[42]
  740. Protoblastenia
  741. Protomicarea
  742. Protopannaria
  743. Protoparmelia
  744. Protoparmeliopsis
  745. Protoroccella[42]
  746. Protothelenella
  747. Protousnea
  748. Psammina
  749. Psathyrophlyctis
  750. Pseudarctomia
  751. Pseudephebe
  752. Pseudevernia
  753. Pseudobaeomyces
  754. Pseudocalopadia
  755. Pseudochapsa
  756. Pseudocyphellaria
  757. Pseudohepatica
  758. Pseudoheppia
  759. Pseudolecanactis
  760. Pseudoleptogium
  761. Pseudopannaria
  762. Pseudoparmelia
  763. Pseudopaulia
  764. Pseudopeltula
  765. Pseudopyrenula
  766. Pseudoramonia
  767. Pseudosagedia
  768. Pseudoschismatomma
  769. Pseudothelomma
  770. Pseudotopeliopsis
  771. Psilolechia
  772. Psiloparmelia
  773. Psora
  774. Psorinia
  775. Psoroglaena
  776. Psoroma
  777. Psoromella
  778. Psoromidium[42]
  779. Psoronactis
  780. Psorotheciopsis
  781. Psorotichia
  782. Psorula
  783. Pterygiopsis
  784. Ptychographa
  785. Pulvinodecton
  786. Pulvinora[87]
  787. Punctelia
  788. Punctonora
  789. Puttea
  790. Pycnora
  791. Pycnothelia
  792. Pycnotrema
  793. Pyrenocarpon
  794. Pyrenocollema
  795. Pyrenodesmia
  796. Pyrenopsis
  797. Pyrenothrix
  798. Pyrenowilmsia
  799. Pyrenula (list)
  800. Pyrgillus
  801. Pyrrhospora
  802. Pyxine
  803. Racodium
  804. Racoleus
  805. Raesaeneniana
  806. Ramalea
  807. Ramalina
  808. Ramalodium
  809. Ramboldia
  810. Ramonia
  811. Redingeria
  812. Redonia
  813. Redonographa
  814. Rehmanniella[88]
  815. Reichlingia
  816. Reimnitzia
  817. Relicina
  818. Remototrachyna
  819. Requienella
  820. Rhabdodiscus
  821. Rhabdopsora
  822. Rhaphidicyrtis
  823. Rhexophiale
  824. Rhizocarpon
  825. Rhizolecia
  826. Rhizoplaca
  827. Ricasolia
  828. Rimularia
  829. Rinodina (list)
  830. Rinodinella
  831. Robergea
  832. Rocella
  833. Roccellographa
  834. Roccellina
  835. Roccellinastrum
  836. Rockefellera[89]
  837. Rolfidium
  838. Rolueckia
  839. Romjularia
  840. Ropalospora
  841. Rostania
  842. Rubrotricha
  843. Rufoplaca
  844. Rusavskia
  845. Sagedia
  846. Sagema
  847. Sagenidiopsis
  848. Sagiolechia
  849. Sanguinotrema
  850. Santessonia
  851. Sarcographa
  852. Sarcographina
  853. Sarcogyne
  854. Sarcosagium
  855. Sarea
  856. Sarrameana
  857. Savoronala
  858. Schadonia
  859. Schaereria
  860. Schismatomma
  861. Schistophoron
  862. Schizodiscus
  863. Schizopelte
  864. Schizotrema
  865. Schizoxylon
  866. Sclerococcum
  867. Sclerophora
  868. Sclerophyton
  869. Scleropyrenium
  870. Scoliciosporum
  871. Sculptolumina
  872. Scutaria
  873. Scytinium
  874. Sedelnikovaea
  875. Segestria
  876. Seirophora
  877. Semigyalecta
  878. Semiomphalina
  879. Septotrapelia
  880. Servitia
  881. Shackletonia
  882. Sigridea
  883. Simonyella
  884. Sipmaniella
  885. Siphula
  886. Siphulastrum
  887. Siphulella
  888. Sipmania
  889. Sirenophila
  890. Snippocia[90][73]
  891. Solenopsora
  892. Solitaria
  893. Solorina
  894. Solorinaria
  895. Sparria
  896. Speerschneidera
  897. Sphaerophorus
  898. Sphaerophoropsis
  899. Spheconisca
  900. Sphinctrinopsis
  901. Spilonema
  902. Sporastatia
  903. Sporodictyon
  904. Sporodophoron
  905. Sporopodiopsis
  906. Sporopodium
  907. Sporostigma
  908. Sprucidea[91][80]
  909. Squamarina
  910. Squamella
  911. Squamulea
  912. Staurospora[92][93]
  913. Staurolemma
  914. Staurothele
  915. Stegobolus
  916. Steinera
  917. Steineropsis
  918. Steinia
  919. Stellarangia
  920. Stenhammarella
  921. Stephanocyclos
  922. Stereocaulon
  923. Sticta
  924. Stictis
  925. Stigmatochroma
  926. Stigmidium
  927. Strangospora
  928. Streimannia
  929. Streimanniella
  930. Stirtonia
  931. Stirtoniella
  932. Strigula
  933. Stromatella
  934. Sulcaria
  935. Sulcopyrenula
  936. Sulzbacheromyces
  937. Synalissa
  938. Synarthonia
  939. Synarthothelium
  940. Syncesia
  941. Szczawinskia
  942. Tania
  943. Tapellaria
  944. Tapellariopsis
  945. Tarasginia
  946. Tarbertia
  947. Tasmidella
  948. Tassiloa
  949. Tayloriellina
  950. Teloschistes
  951. Teloschistopsis
  952. Tenuitholiascus[94][45]
  953. Tephromela
  954. Tetramelas
  955. Teuvoa
  956. Texosporium
  957. Thallinocarpon
  958. Thalloloma
  959. Thamnochrolechia
  960. Thamnolecania
  961. Thamnolia
  962. Thecaria
  963. Thecographa
  964. Thelenella
  965. Thelenidia
  966. Thelidiopsis
  967. Thelignya
  968. Thelliana
  969. Thelocarpon
  970. Thelomma
  971. Thelopsis
  972. Thelotrema
  973. Thermutis
  974. Thermutopsis
  975. Tholurna
  976. Thrombium
  977. Thyrea
  978. Thysanothecium
  979. Tibellia
  980. Timdalia
  981. Tingiopsidium
  982. Toensbergia
  983. Toninia
  984. Toniniopsis
  985. Topelia
  986. Topeliopsis
  987. Tornabea
  988. Trapelia
  989. Trapeliopsis
  990. Traponora
  991. Tremolecia
  992. Tremotylium[42]
  993. Tricharia
  994. Trichothelium
  995. Trimmatothele
  996. Trimmatothelopsis
  997. Trinathotrema
  998. Trizodia
  999. Trypetheliopsis
  1000. Trypethelium
  1001. Tuckermanella
  1002. Tuckermanopsis
  1003. Tylophorella
  1004. Tylophoron
  1005. Tylophoropsis
  1006. Tylothallia
  1007. Umbilicaria
  1008. Upretia[95]
  1009. Usnea
  1010. Usnocetraria
  1011. Usnochroma
  1012. Vahliella
  1013. Vainionora
  1014. Varicellaria
  1015. Variospora
  1016. Verrucaria (list)
  1017. Verruculopsis
  1018. Verseghya[96]
  1019. Vezdaea
  1020. Vigneronia
  1021. Villophora
  1022. Violella
  1023. Viridothelium
  1024. Vulpicida
  1025. Wadeana
  1026. Wahlenbergiella
  1027. Watsoniomyces[97]
  1028. Wawea
  1029. Waynea
  1030. Wetmoreana
  1031. Willeya
  1032. Wirthiotrema
  1033. Xalocoa
  1034. Xanthocarpia
  1035. Xanthomendoza
  1036. Xanthoparmelia (list)
  1037. Xanthopeltis
  1038. Xanthopsorella
  1039. Xanthoria
  1040. Xenolecia
  1041. Xenus
  1042. Xyleborus
  1043. Xylographa
  1044. Xyloschistes
  1045. Xylospora
  1046. Yarrumia
  1047. Yoshimuria
  1048. Yoshimuriella
  1049. Zahlbrucknerella
  1050. Zeroviella
  1051. Zwackhia

Species edit

In 2009, taxonomists estimated that the total number of lichen species (including those yet undiscovered) might be as high as 28,000.[98] By 2016, 19,387 species of lichens had been described and widely accepted.[99]

Lichens, by growth form edit

 
Xanthoria parietina has the leafy-looking growth of a foliose lichen.[100]

Lichen growth forms – These vary depending on the species:

Lichens, by substrate edit

 
Saxicolous lichens are those which grow on stone.[109]

Lichens can be classified by the substrate on which they grow:

Lichens, by region edit

 
Namibia's vast deserts, which hold many species of lichen, remain largely unsurveyed.[115]

Africa edit

Antarctica edit

Asia edit

Australia edit

Europe edit

North America edit

Oceania edit

Pacific edit

South America edit

Photobiont edit

 
The photobiont in most lichens is a green alga, particularly those from the genus Trebouxia.[6]

Photobiont – the photosynthetic partner in a lichen.[116]

Lichen metabolites edit

Lichen product – organic products, known as secondary metabolites, produced by lichens; these provide a variety of protections for the lichen – from microbes, viruses, herbivores, radiation, oxidants and more.[118]

 
Chemical spot tests on the foliose lichen Punctelia borreri showing thallus (top) and medulla (bottom). The pinkish-red colour change of the medulla in the C and KC tests indicate the presence of gyrophoric acid, a chemical feature that helps to distinguish this lichen from similar species in the same genus.[119]

Study of lichens edit

Lichenology – the study of lichens.[120]

Threats edit

Lichens in culture edit

 
Two baked loaves of Bryoria fremontii, an important traditional food for some First Nations people[129]

Lichen organizations edit

  • Herzogia – peer-reviewed journal published by BLAM.
  • Lindbergia – peer-reviewed journal co-published by the Dutch Bryological and Lichenological Society and the Nordic Bryological Society.

Independent lichenological journals edit

See also edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Van Hoose 2021.
  2. ^ Cambridge Dictionary.
  3. ^ a b Favor 2005, p. 5.
  4. ^ Laundon 1986, p. 3.
  5. ^ Li et al. 2021, p. evab101.
  6. ^ a b c Purvis 2000, p. 9.
  7. ^ a b Laundon 1986, p. 2.
  8. ^ Honegger 1998, p. 197.
  9. ^ a b Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 758.
  10. ^ Baron 1999, p. 14.
  11. ^ Hawksworth, Sutton & Ainsworth 1983, p. 26.
  12. ^ Silverstein, Silverstein & Silverstein 1996, p. 32.
  13. ^ Smith et al. 2009, p. 22.
  14. ^ Smith et al. 2009, p. 30.
  15. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 756.
  16. ^ Hale 1983, pp. 3, 6.
  17. ^ Smith et al. 2009, p. 36.
  18. ^ Smith et al. 2009, p. 24.
  19. ^ Hawksworth, Sutton & Ainsworth 1983, p. 330.
  20. ^ a b Smith et al. 2009, p. 38.
  21. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 763.
  22. ^ a b Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 757.
  23. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 759.
  24. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 760.
  25. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 761.
  26. ^ a b Henriksson & Simu 1971, p. 119.
  27. ^ Smith et al. 2020, p. 134.
  28. ^ Bowler & Rundel 1975, p. 328.
  29. ^ Bowler & Rundel 1975, p. 326–327.
  30. ^ Galloway 2012, p. 315.
  31. ^ Zakeri et al. 2022, p. 80.
  32. ^ Chen, Blume & Beyer 2000, p. 124.
  33. ^ Green et al. 2018, p. 397.
  34. ^ a b c d Wijayawardene et al. 2022.
  35. ^ a b c Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 377–400.
  36. ^ Bendre 2010, p. 131.
  37. ^ Lepp 2014.
  38. ^ a b c Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 371.
  39. ^ a b Kraichak et al. 2018a.
  40. ^ a b Kraichak et al. 2018b.
  41. ^ a b c d Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 162.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2017, p. 58.
  43. ^ Gamundí & Spinedi 1985, p. 112.
  44. ^ Jiang et al. 2020, p. 11.
  45. ^ a b Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 124.
  46. ^ Lendemer, Harris & Ruiz 2016, p. 26.
  47. ^ Lücking & Kalb 2018, p. 353.
  48. ^ Wilk et al. 2021, p. 289.
  49. ^ Aptroot, Sparrius & Alvarado 2018, p. 12.
  50. ^ Wilk et al. 2021, p. 292.
  51. ^ Spribille et al. 2020, p. 85.
  52. ^ Kantvilas, Wedin & Svensson 2021, p. 400.
  53. ^ Divakar et al. 2017, p. 110.
  54. ^ a b c Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 150.
  55. ^ Diederich & Ertz 2020, p. 22.
  56. ^ Kistenich et al. 2018, p. 871.
  57. ^ Fryday et al. 2020, p. 473.
  58. ^ Wilk et al. 2021, p. 293.
  59. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2019, p. 295.
  60. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 79.
  61. ^ a b Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 156.
  62. ^ a b c Divakar et al. 2017, p. 109.
  63. ^ Ertz et al. 2017, p. 131.
  64. ^ Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 159.
  65. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 86.
  66. ^ Simon et al. 2020, p. 82.
  67. ^ Sobreira et al. 2018, p. 67.
  68. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 87.
  69. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 90.
  70. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 91.
  71. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 96.
  72. ^ Grube, Matzer & Hafellner 1995, p. 28.
  73. ^ a b Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 89.
  74. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 97.
  75. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 105.
  76. ^ Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 98.
  77. ^ Sodamuk et al. 2017, p. 15.
  78. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2021, p. 372.
  79. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2021, p. 375.
  80. ^ a b Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 149.
  81. ^ Kalb & Aptroot 2021, p. 5.
  82. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2015, p. 328.
  83. ^ Bungartz, Søchting & Arup 2021.
  84. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 112.
  85. ^ Etayo 2017, p. 335.
  86. ^ Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 160.
  87. ^ Davydov et al. 2021, p. 245.
  88. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 107.
  89. ^ Lendemer, Stone & Tripp 2017, p. 459.
  90. ^ Ertz et al. 2018, p. 170.
  91. ^ Cáceres et al. 2017, p. 206.
  92. ^ Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 38.
  93. ^ Grube 2018, p. 695.
  94. ^ Jiang et al. 2020, p. 1.
  95. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 24.
  96. ^ Kondratyuk et al. 2016, p. 104.
  97. ^ Díaz-Escandón et al. 2021, p. 501.
  98. ^ Lücking et al. 2009, p. 411.
  99. ^ Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 370.
  100. ^ Dobson 2011, p. 470.
  101. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 16.
  102. ^ a b c d e The British Lichen Society 2022a.
  103. ^ Temu et al. 2019, p. 1.
  104. ^ Kantvilas 1996, p. 229.
  105. ^ Dobson 2011, p. 26.
  106. ^ Sanders 2001, p. 1033.
  107. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 17.
  108. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 18.
  109. ^ a b c d e f g The British Lichen Society 2022b.
  110. ^ Lendemer, Buck & Harris 2016, p. 441.
  111. ^ a b c d Upreti & Rai 2013, p. 2.
  112. ^ a b Lücking 2008, p. 4.
  113. ^ Lücking 1998, p. 287.
  114. ^ Rosentreter 1993, p. 333.
  115. ^ Schultz, Zedda & Rambold 2009, p. 315.
  116. ^ Purvis 2000, p. 5.
  117. ^ Rikkinen 2015, p. 973.
  118. ^ Goga et al. 2018, p. 1.
  119. ^ Truong & Clerc 2003, p. 52.
  120. ^ Merriam-Webster.
  121. ^ International Association for Lichenology.
  122. ^ Pfister 1985, p. 1.
  123. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 84.
  124. ^ Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 103.
  125. ^ Lawrey & Diederich 2003, p. 80.
  126. ^ Nimis, Scheidegger & Wolseley 2002.
  127. ^ Oliver 2011, p. 1.
  128. ^ Field Museum 2022.
  129. ^ Turner 1977, p. 461.
  130. ^ Penguin Books.
  131. ^ Ivanova & Ivanov 2009, p. 11.
  132. ^ Vinayaka & Krishnamurthy 2012, p. 265.

References edit

External links edit