SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 11555.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "11555" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

coenogonium lichen

Scientific Name: Coenogonium interplexum

Family: Gyalectaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Coenogonium Lichen

Coenogonium is a genus of lichenized fungi, sometimes referred to as "coenogonium lichen" in general discussion. This page provides information compiled from various sources regarding this fascinating group of organisms.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Coenogonium C.G. Ehrenberg in C.G.D. Nees von Esenbeck, 1820
  • Kingdom: Plantae (note: lichens are now classified within the Fungi kingdom, so this reference is outdated)
  • Phylum: Lichens
  • Class: Lecanoromycetes
  • Order: Ostropales, Gyalectales
  • Family: Coenogoniaceae, Gyalectaceae
  • Common Name: Coenogonium Lichen
  • Synonyms: Based on the text, Dimerella has been included in Coenogonium by some researchers.

Distribution and Habitat

  • The genus has a widespread distribution, including locations in the USA, Canada, South Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil (Paraba, Amazonia), Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Dominican Republic, and China (Yunnan).
  • Coenogonium linkii is described as very common in the understory of neotropical environments, growing on stems, hanging roots, and lianas.
  • Some species are foliicolous, meaning they grow on leaves.

Morphology and Growth Habits

  • Coenogonium lichens can be green to yellow-orange and filamentous.
  • Coenogonium implexum is a byssoid lichen, meaning it has a wispy growth form resembling teased wool. It has a yellow-green thallus with light orange apothecia.
  • Some species have a crustose growth habit and prothalli.
  • Coenogonium boninense has green, fan-shaped thalli made of filaments.

Ecological Role

  • Coenogonium species are formed through a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga, where the alga is often the dominant symbiont and occurs as filaments on the lichen surface.
  • Some species are lichenicolous fungi, meaning they grow on other lichens, such as Coenogonium flavicans.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Some species of Coenogonium are hosts to lichenicolous fungi like Chiodecton epiphyllum.

Resources and Further Information

  • Lichens of North America by Brodo, I.M., Sharnoff, S.D. and Sharnoff, S. (2001)
  • Hale, M.E. 1976 - A monograph of the lichen genus Bulbothrix Hale.