Arthoniaceae

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Family of fungi

title: "Arthoniaceae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["arthoniaceae", "lichen-families", "ascomycota-families", "taxa-named-by-ludwig-reichenbach", "taxa-described-in-1841"] description: "Family of fungi" topic_path: "general/arthoniaceae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthoniaceae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Family of fungi ::

| image = Cryptothecia rubrocincta-3.jpg | image_caption = Cryptothecia rubrocincta, member of the Arthoniaceae | taxon = Arthoniaceae | authority = Rchb. (1841) | type_genus = Arthonia | type_genus_authority = Ach. (1806)

The Arthoniaceae are a family of lichenized, lichenicolous and saprobic fungi in the order Arthoniales. The Arthoniaceae is the largest family of Arthoniales, with around 800 species. Most species in Arthoniaceae belong in Arthonia which is the largest genus with 500 species. The second and third largest genus is Arthothelium with 80 species, and Cryptothecia with 60 species.

Taxonomy

The family was circumscribed by Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach in 1841.

Arthonia is the type genus of Arthoniaceae, and it is known to be a polyphyletic and paraphyletic genus. The process of splitting Arthonia into monophyletic groups is an ongoing process. In order to make Arthonia monophyletic, several genera have been described or resurrected.

Description

The family Arthoniaceae consists of lichens that are either lichenized or lichenicolous (living on other lichens), and sometimes lose their lichenized nature. The main body of these lichens, known as the thallus, is crustose, meaning it forms a crust-like appearance on the surface it inhabits. In lichen-forming species of Arthoniaceae, the primary photosynthetic partner (the ), is usually a green alga from the genus Trentepohlia. Occasionally, they associate with other green algae, like Chrosonothrix.

The form of the reproductive structures (ascomata) varies widely within this family. They can be (open and -like), (elongated and furrowed), or scattered. Some genera, like Tylophoron, have a unique type of ascomata called . Typically, these structures lack distinct margins made of their own tissue () or host tissue ().

The internal structure of the ascomata, known as the , consists of branched and interconnected filaments called paraphyses. In some genera, such as Cryptothecia and Stirtonia, the hamathecium lacks a gelatinous matrix, while in others, like Arthothelium, it is densely packed, resembling a different type of fungal reproductive structure known as ascolocular ascomata. These structures can react to iodine (amyloid reaction) in various ways: not at all (non-amyloid), partially (hemiamyloid), or fully (amyloid).

The asci, which are the spore-producing cells, are typically , meaning they have a double wall that splits during spore release. They come in various shapes, from club-shaped () to sac-like (saccate) or even spherical (), and contain a specialized cap structure (apical ) and an eye-like feature (ocular chamber). The asci may react to iodine in different ways: non-amyloid, hemiamyloid, or amyloid.

The spores produced by the asci, the ascospores, usually number eight per ascus but can sometimes be fewer, ranging from two to four or even one. These spores are segmented (transversely septate) or have multiple compartments (), with shapes ranging from ellipsoid to clavate. Often, one end of the spore is larger (macrocephalic), or in muriform spores, there is a single large cell. The spores are typically transparent (hyaline) or brown and do not react to iodine.

Arthoniaceae also produce asexual spores in structures called pycnidia, and less commonly in . The conidia (asexual spores) can vary in shape from simple, non-segmented forms to those with transverse segments, and can be oblong, rod-like (), needle-like (-), or sickle-shaped (), and are typically hyaline.

The family produces a diverse range of secondary metabolites (lichen products), including depsides, depsidones, anthraquinones, and derivatives of pulvinic acid. Some species also contain xanthones.

Distribution

The species in Arthoniaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are especially prevalent in tropical areas with a Mediterranean climate. They are known from arctic to tropical latitudes, as well as variating altitudes from sea level to alpine regions, distributed in both humid forests and dry habitats.

Ecology

Collectively, the family have a highly variable ecology with lichen-forming, lichenicolous and saprobic fungi. The majority of species are lichenized with a photobiont from Trentepohliaceae and a few species in Arthonia are lichenized with a photobiont from Chlorococcaleae. They grow on leaves, bark, bryophytes, and rocks. Other species are lichenicolous (growing on other lichens), and a few species, such as those in genus Naevia, are known to be saprobic.

Genera

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, Species Fungorum accepts 25 genera and 392 species in the family Arthoniaceae. This is a list of the genera in the Arthoniaceae based on a 2020 review and summary of fungal classification by Wijayawardene and colleagues. Following the genus name is the taxonomic authority (those who first circumscribed the genus; standardized author abbreviations are used), year of publication, and the number of species:

References

References

  1. [http://eol.org/pages/5584/overview Encyclopedia of Life, consulted at september the seventeenth 2013]
  2. (2012-01-01). "A literature review of Arthonia s. lat". Biblioth. Lichenol..
  3. Grube, M. "A taxonomic survey of arthonioid fungi with reddish K+ reactive pigments.". Doctoral Dissertation, Karl-Franzens-Universität, Graz.
  4. "The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland".
  5. (July 1998). "Phylogenetic Studies of the Genus Arthonia". The Lichenologist.
  6. (2014-08-28). "The Arthonialean challenge: Restructuring Arthoniaceae". Taxon.
  7. (2007). "Fungal Families of the World". CAB International.
  8. [[Species Fungorum]]. "Arthoniaceae". [[Catalog of Life]].
  9. (2012). "''Briancoppinsia'', a new coelomycetous genus of Arthoniaceae (Arthoniales) for the lichenicolous ''Phoma cytospora'', with a key to this and similar taxa". Fungal Diversity.
  10. (2016). "Syllabus of Plant Families: Adolf Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien". Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Borntraeger Science Publishers.
  11. (2009). "''Crypthonia'', a new genus of byssoid Arthoniaceae (lichenised Ascomycota)". Mycological Progress.
  12. (2015). "''Inoderma'' and related genera in Arthoniaceae with elevated white pruinose pycnidia or sporodochia". The Lichenologist.
  13. Grube, Martin. (2001). "''Coniarthonia'', a new genus of arthonioid lichens". The Lichenologist.
  14. Grube, Martin. (2018). "''Staurospora'', a new genus for a unique species with spherical ascospores in Arthoniaceae". Herzogia.
  15. Krempelhuber, A.. (1874). "Lichenes foliicolae quos legit O. Beccari annis 1866–1867 in insula Borneo". Privately published.
  16. (1862). "''Tylophoron'' et ''Parathelium'' genera lichenum nova". Botanische Zeitung.
  17. Stirton, J.. (1877). "Descriptions of recently discovered lichens". Proceedings of the Philosophical Society of Glasgow.
  18. (2020). "Evolution of non-lichenized, saprotrophic species of ''Arthonia'' (Ascomycota, Arthoniales) and resurrection of ''Naevia'', with notes on ''Mycoporum''". Fungal Diversity.
  19. (2020). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa". Mycosphere.

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arthoniaceaelichen-familiesascomycota-familiestaxa-named-by-ludwig-reichenbachtaxa-described-in-1841