Outline of lichens

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

Lichen composite 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 is a lichen?

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 into 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

Section labeled "a" is grey, dotted with hundreds of small white circles. Section labeled "b" has grey strands surrounding numerous green circles. Section labeled "c" has loosely tangled grey strands with much open space between them. Section labeled "d" mirrors section labeled "a". In the section labeled "e", the structure in section "d" descends to two points - again grey with many white circles
Schematic cross section of foliose lichen:
(a) The cortex is the outer layer of tightly woven fungus 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

  • Apoplast – the symbiotic interface zone between the mycobiont and photobiont, outside the cell membranes or walls of both.[9]
  • Ascocarp – the fruiting body of a lichen, which contains the asci.[10]
  • Ascus (PL asci) – a sexual, fungal spore-bearing structure, typically sac-like in shape.[11]
  • Ascospore – a fungal spore, the product of meiosis, produced in an ascus.[12]
  • Epispore – a transparent bag-like outer covering on some spores,[13] 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]
  • Haustorium (PL haustoria) – a root-like structure which allows the fungal partner to extract nutrients from its photosynthetic partner(s).[13]
  • 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

A leafy, dark bronze lichen with wavy, white-tipped edges on a piece of bark
Lichens with a cyanobacteria as the photosynthetic partner, like this Peltigera collina, can fix nitrogen.[26]
  • Symbiosis in lichens – the relationship between the lichen partners can be complicated; while generally mutualistic, sometimes it is not. Recent research also shows other partners, including bacteria and "accessory" fungi, may be involved.[27]
  • Asexual reproduction in lichens – many lichens reproduce asexually, using one or more of various methods which allow the dispersal of bundles of both fungal hyphae and photobionts.
  • Sexual reproduction in lichens – most lichens reproduce sexually using ascospores, which means they have to acquire their photobiont partners somehow after germinating.[28]
  • Lichens and nitrogen cycling – some lichens (in particular those with cyanobacteria as a photobiont) can fix nitrogen.[26]
  • Lichen biogeography – the study of the current distribution of extant lichens and the reasons for those distributions.[29]
  • Lichen resynthesis – lichens can be artificially "recreated" by combining partners in a lab.[30]
  • Lichens and pedogenesis – lichens contribute to the formation of soil by breaking down rock.[31]
    • Biological soil crust – lichens are among the common dominant biota in biocrusts, one of the world's largest environmental community types in terms of area covered.[32]
  • Photosynthesis in lichens

Types of lichens

Lichen taxonomical classifications

Several small brown balls rest atop black stalks rising from a bit of wood.
Chaenotheca brunneola falls into Coniocybomycetes, a small fungal class which contains only a handful of lichen species.[33]

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.[33][34]

Classes

Lichens fall into eight fungal classes and several subclasses:[37]

Orders

A thick branch covered with a white crust, marked by black spots and thin black lines.
Lecidella elaeochroma is a member of Lecanorales, the fungal order which contains the greatest number of lichen species.[37]

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,[37] with orders updated in 2021.[33]

Families

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;[34] families were updated in 2021.[33]

  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[40]
  32. Gloeoheppiaceae
  33. Gomphillaceae
  34. Graphidaceae
  35. Gyalectaceae
  36. Gypsoplacaceae
  37. Haematommataceae
  38. Harpidiaceae[41]
  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[40][42]
  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[40]
  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[43][44]
  103. Tephromelataceae
  104. Thelenellaceae
  105. Thelocarpaceae
  106. Thrombiaceae
  107. Trapeliaceae
  108. Trichosphaeriaceae[41]
  109. Trichotheliaceae[40]
  110. Trypetheliaceae
  111. Umbilicariaceae
  112. Vahliellaceae
  113. Varicellariaceae
  114. Verrucariaceae
  115. Vezdaeaceae
  116. Xanthopyreniaceae
  117. Xylographaceae

Genera

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.[34]

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

Species

In 2009, taxonomists estimated that the total number of lichen species (including those yet undiscovered) might be as high as 28,000.[90] By 2016, 19,387 species of lichens had been described and widely accepted.[91]

Lichens, by growth form

Stick covered with flat, yellowy-green, wavy-edged lichen speckled with raised orange spots
Xanthoria parietina has the leafy-looking growth of a foliose lichen.[92]

Lichen growth forms – These vary depending on the species:

Lichens, by substrate

Photo of stony ground with one large rock covered in a multitude of lichens of different sizes, shapes and colours
Saxicolous lichens are those which grow on stone.[101]

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

Lichens, by region

Photo of sandy ground with patches of flat brown and bright orange ball-shaped lichens
Namibia's vast deserts, which hold many species of lichen, remain largely unsurveyed.[107]

Africa

Asia

Australia

Europe

North America

Photobiont

Picture through microscope of four algal cells: round with clear edges and bright green centres
The photobiont in most lichens is a green alga, particularly those from the genus Trebouxia.[6]

Photobiont – the photosynthetic partner in a lichen.[108]

  • Cyanolichen – a lichen with a cyanobacteria photobiont.[109]
  • List of lichen photobionts

Lichen metabolites

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.[110]

  • List of lichen products
Four photos showing a leafy dark green lichen; the top two are virtually identical, though one photo is labeled C (calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite) and K (potassium hydroxide) and the other labeled C and KC (K followed immediately by C). The bottom two show a colour change; where the medulla has been exposed, its colour changes to pinkish-red when exposed to C and KC.
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.[111]

Study of lichens

Lichenology – the study of lichens.[112]

  • Acharius Medal – awarded for lifetime achievement in lichenology.[113]
  • Evolution of lichens – lichenization of fungi has occurred multiple times, and several pathways towards acquiring photobionts have arisen.
    • List of fossil lichens
  • Exsiccata (plural exsiccatae) – a published set of preserved specimens, numbered and distributed with printed labels.[114]
  • History of lichenology
  • Lichenometry – a process where measuring the growth of a lichen colony over time can be used to estimate the minimum age of the substrate on which it is growing.[115]
  • Spot test (lichen) – chemical tests used to aid in species identification.[116]

Threats

  • List of lichenicolous fungi
  • Lichens as bioindicators – lichens are sensitive to various pollutants and can be thus be used as bioindicators.[118]
  • Lichens and air pollution – many lichens are sensitive to various forms of air pollution.[119]
  • Lichens and climate change – the inability of algae to quickly evolve means that climate change may adversely impact lichens.[120]

Lichens in culture

Two black loaves sit on a plate with knife and fork beside them.
Two baked loaves of Bryoria fremontii, an important traditional food for some First Nations people[121]

Lichen organizations

  • Australasian Lichen Society
  • Australasian Lichenology – official publication of the Australasian Lichen Society.
  • Bryological and Lichenological Association for Central Europe (BLAM)
  • Herzogia – peer-reviewed journal published by BLAM.
  • Bryological and Lichenological Working Group (Bryologische en Lichenologische Werkgroep, BLWG)
  • Buxbaumiella – peer-reviewed journal published by BLWG.
  • Dutch Bryological and Lichenological Society
  • Lindbergia – peer-reviewed journal co-published by the Dutch Bryological and Lichenological Society and the Nordic Bryological Society.

Independent lichenological journals

  • Asian Journal of Mycology – an international peer-reviewed journal published by Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand.
  • Bibliotheca Lichenologica – scientific monographs on lichens and mosses.
  • Hattoria – an international, peer-reviewed journal issued by Hattori Botanical Laboratory.
  • International Journal of Mycology and Lichenology

See also

Citations

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  60. Divakar et al. 2017, p. 109.
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  64. Simon et al. 2020, p. 82.
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  67. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 90.
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  69. Grube, Matzer & Hafellner 1995, p. 28.
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  71. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 105.
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  73. Sodamuk et al. 2017, p. 15.
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  77. Kalb & Aptroot 2021, p. 5.
  78. Bungartz, Søchting & Arup 2021.
  79. Etayo 2017, p. 335.
  80. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 160.
  81. Davydov et al. 2021, p. 245.
  82. Lendemer, Stone & Tripp 2017, p. 459.
  83. Ertz et al. 2018, p. 170.
  84. Cáceres et al. 2017, p. 206.
  85. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 38.
  86. Grube 2018, p. 695.
  87. Jiang et al. 2020, p. 1.
  88. Kondratyuk et al. 2016, p. 104.
  89. Díaz-Escandón et al. 2021, p. 501.
  90. Lücking et al. 2009, p. 411.
  91. Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 370.
  92. Dobson 2011, p. 470.
  93. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 16.
  94. The British Lichen Society 2022a.
  95. Temu et al. 2019, p. 1.
  96. Kantvilas 1996, p. 229.
  97. Dobson 2011, p. 26.
  98. Sanders 2001, p. 1033.
  99. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 17.
  100. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 18.
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  102. Lendemer, Buck & Harris 2016, p. 441.
  103. Upreti & Rai 2013, p. 2.
  104. Lücking 2008, p. 4.
  105. Lücking 1998, p. 287.
  106. Rosentreter 1993, p. 333.
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  109. Rikkinen 2015, p. 973.
  110. Goga et al. 2018, p. 1.
  111. Truong & Clerc 2003, p. 52.
  112. Merriam-Webster.
  113. International Association for Lichenology.
  114. Pfister 1985, p. 1.
  115. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 84.
  116. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 103.
  117. Lawrey & Diederich 2003, p. 80.
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  119. Oliver 2011, p. 1.
  120. Field Museum 2022.
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References

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