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plectocarpon lichen

Scientific Name: Plectocarpon

Family: Roccellaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Plectocarpon Lichen

Plectocarpon is a genus of lichens belonging to the Roccellaceae family. It is often referred to as Plectocarpon Lichen.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Genus: Plectocarpon
  • Family: Roccellaceae
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Synonyms: Delisea (Fee, 1825), see also Species Fungorum

Distribution and Habitat

Plectocarpon species have a broad distribution, including regions like the Greater Sonoran Desert, British Isles (especially Scotland), Sweden, Norway, and British Columbia. They are often described as ubiquitous.

Ecological Role

  • Plectocarpon is typically a lichenicolous fungus, meaning it grows on other lichens.
  • It is often considered commensalistic with its host lichen, rather than parasitic.
  • Some species induce gall formation on their host lichens.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Plectocarpon forms a stroma, often multilocular, with a thalline pseudo-margin consisting of host tissue surrounding the hymenium.
  • It has a lichenous growth habit.

Species

Some notable species within the genus Plectocarpon include:

  • Plectocarpon lichenum (Sommerf.) D. Hawksw.
  • Plectocarpon nephromeum (Norman) Sant.
  • Plectocarpon sampaianae Diederich & Etayo
  • Plectocarpon stereocaulicola Kukwa, Etayo
  • Plectocarpon peltigerae Zhurb., Ertz, Diederich & Miadl.
  • Plectocarpon encausticum (Nyl.) R. Sant.
  • Plectocarpon nashii
  • Plectocarpon coppinsii Ertz & Diederich
  • Plectocarpon scrobiculatae

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Plectocarpon species are lichenicolous fungi, meaning they grow on and interact with other lichens.
  • They can be hosts to other lichenicolous fungi.

Further Information

Additional information about Plectocarpon can be found at:

  • British Lichen Society (BLS) Lichen Database
  • NBN Gateway (data.nbn.org.uk) for UK distribution maps
  • Species Fungorum database
  • Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region
  • ResearchGate