Absconditella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Stictidaceae.[2] These lichens are characterised by their inconspicuous growth and small, cup-shaped fruiting bodies (apothecia) that are often hidden within a jelly-like mass containing green algae. The genus name, meaning "hidden", reflects their elusive nature. Absconditella species are typically found on short-lived surfaces such as decaying wood, mosses, and unstable soil. Genetic studies have revealed that the genus is more complex than previously thought, with some species being moved to a new genus, Absconditonia, and others potentially representing groups of closely related species. Despite their small size and easily overlooked nature, environmental DNA studies suggest that Absconditella lichens may be more widespread than collections indicate.
| Absconditella | |
|---|---|
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| Absconditella sphagnorum | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Ostropales |
| Family: | Stictidaceae |
| Genus: | Absconditella Vèzda (1965) |
| Type species | |
| Absconditella sphagnorum Vězda & Poelt (1965)
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| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Taxonomy
editThe genus was circumscribed in 1965 by Czech lichenologist Antonín Vězda, with Absconditella sphagnorum assigned as the type species. Absconditella is characterised by gyalectoid apothecia with a hymenium that is not amyloid, without a dark pigment and thalli containing green algae as photobionts.[3] The genus name means "hidden", a reference to the scant structure of the thallus and its small apothecia.[4]
Molecular phylogenetics studies have shown that Absconditella is polyphyletic within Stictidaceae. The genus Geisleria has been found to be nested within Absconditella, leading to the transfer of Geisleria sychnogonioides to Absconditella. Additionally, a new genus, Absconditonia, has been circumscribed to accommodate some species previously placed in Absconditella.[1]
The conservation of the name Absconditella against Geisleria has been proposed to maintain nomenclatural stability.[1]
Characteristics
editAbsconditella species typically have minute, urceolate (deeply cup-shaped) ascomata (fruiting bodies) that are often sunken into a gel-like thallus. The excipulum can be either composed of parallel conglutinated hyphae or cellular. Paraphyses are simple and indistinctly septate, occasionally branched only in the upper part. Ascospores vary in shape and septation among species.[1]
Habitat and distribution
editSpecies of Absconditella are often found on ephemeral substrates such as decaying wood, bryophytes, and unstable soil. Environmental DNA studies suggest that both Absconditella and Absconditonia may be more widespread than previously thought based on collected specimens alone.[1]
Species
editAs of August 2024[update], Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 13 species of Absconditella,[5] although more species than this have been proposed for inclusion.
- Absconditella amabilis T.Sprib. (2009)[6] – Canada
- Absconditella annexa (Arnold) Vězda (1965)
- Absconditella antarctica Søchting & Vězda (2004)[7] – Antarctica
- Absconditella baegasanensis Lőkös, S.Y.Kondr. & Hur (2013)[8]
- Absconditella celata Döbbeler & Poelt (1977)[9] – Lappland
- Absconditella delutula (Nyl.) Coppins & H.Kilias (1980)
- Absconditella duplicella (Nyl.) Rossman (1979)
- Absconditella fossarum Vězda & Pišút (1985)[10]
- Absconditella lignicola Vězda & Pišút (1985)[10]
- Absconditella pauxilla Vězda & Vivant (1975)
- Absconditella rosea Kalb & Aptroot (2018)[11] – South America
- Absconditella sphagnorum Vězda & Poelt (1965)[3]
- Absconditella sychnogonioides (Nitschke) Suija & van den Boom (2023)[1]
- Absconditella termitariicola Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2016)[12] – Brazil
- Absconditella trivialis (Willey ex Tuck.) Vězda (1965)
- Absconditella viridithallina Kalb & Aptroot (2018)[11] – South America
Research suggests that A. sphagnorum may represent a complex of multiple species.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Suija, Ave; van den Boom, Pieter (2023). "Phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic novelties, and combinations within Stictidaceae (Ostropales, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota): focus on Absconditella". Mycological Progress. 22 (46): 1–12. doi:10.1007/s11557-023-01889-2.
- ^ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453 [162]. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. hdl:1854/LU-8754813.
- ^ a b Vězda, A. (1965). "Flechtensystematische Studien II. Absconditella, eine neue Flechtengattung". Preslia (Praha) (in German). 37: 237–245.
- ^ Dobson, Frank S. (2011). Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species (6th ed.). Slough, UK: RichmondPublishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-85546-315-1.
- ^ "Absconditella". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Spribille, Toby; Björk, Curtis R.; Ekman, Stefan; Elix, John A.; Goward, Trevor; Printzen, Christian; Tønsberg, Tor; Wheeler, Tim (2009). "Contributions to an epiphytic lichen flora of northwest North America: I. Eight new species from British Columbia inland rain forests". The Bryologist. 112 (1): 109–137. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-112.1.109.
- ^ Søchting, U.; Øvstedal, D.O.; Sancho, L.G. (2004). "The lichens of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica". Bibliotheca Lichenologica. 88: 607–658.
- ^ Kondratyuk, S.; Lőkös, L.; Tchabanenko, S.; Haji Moniri, M.; Farkas, E.; Wang, X.Y.; Oh, S.O.; Hur, J.S. (2013). "New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi". Acta Biologica Hungarica. 55 (3–4): 275–349.
- ^ Döbbeler, P.; Poelt, J. (1977). "Absconditella celata spec. nov., eine Flechtenart aus Lappland". Herzogia (in German). 4: 363–366. doi:10.1127/herzogia/4/1977/363.
- ^ a b Vězda, A.; Pisut, I. (1984). "Zwei neue Arten der Flechtengattung Absconditella (lichenisierte Stictidaceae, Ostropales) in der Tschechoslowakei". Nova Hedwigia. 40 (1–4): 341–346.
- ^ a b Kalb, K.; Aptroot, A. (2018). "New lichen species from Brazil and Venezuela". The Bryologist. 121 (1): 56–66. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.056.
- ^ Cáceres, M.E.S.; Aptroot, A. (2016). "First inventory of lichens from the Brazilian Amazon in Amapá State". The Bryologist. 119 (3): 250–265. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-119.3.250.