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coccocarpia lichen

Scientific Name: Coccocarpia

Family: Coccocarpiaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Coccocarpia: A Lichen Genus

Coccocarpia is a fascinating genus of lichens, a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. These lichens belong to the Coccocarpiaceae family and are found in diverse environments worldwide.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Coccocarpia
  • Common Name: Coccocarpia Lichen (primarily referring to Coccocarpia palmicola)
  • Other Common Name: Salted Shell Lichen (referring to Coccocarpia palmicola)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Genus: Coccocarpia
  • Family: Coccocarpiaceae
  • Synonyms/Related Names:
    • Coccocarpia palmicola (Spreng.) Arv. & D.J. Galloway
    • Coccocarpia erythroxyli (Spreng.) Swinscow & Krog
    • Coccocarpia parmelioides (Hook.) Tuck. ex M.A. Curtis
    • Coccocarpia pellita (Ach.) Mull. Arg.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Coccocarpia species have a widespread distribution.
  • They are frequently found in humid tropical regions.
  • Specific locations mentioned include:
    • Korean Peninsula
    • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    • Philippines
    • Brazil
    • New Zealand
    • Florida
    • Malaysia
    • Colombia
    • Tasmania

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Coccocarpia lichens are typically small-foliose (leaf-like).
  • The thallus (lichen body) of some species, such as Coccocarpia pellita, is gelatinous.
  • Lobes may be greenish to dark brown and convoluted.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Coccocarpia forms a symbiotic partnership with cyanobacteria (specifically, *Scytonema*) instead of green algae in some species.
  • The text references a gastropod that poses a threat to rare lichens, including Coccocarpia palmicola, by feeding on them.

Quirky Facts

  • Coccocarpia, along with Dictyonema and Stereocaulon, belong to a previously identified group where both the fungal and photobiont components benefit from the symbiotic relationship.

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Australian Plant Names Index
  • Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH)
  • Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region