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Catillaria Lichen

Catillaria is a genus of crustose lichens belonging to the family Catillariaceae. Several species exist within this genus, each with unique characteristics and distributions.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Catillaria A. Massal.
• Family: Catillariaceae
• Synonyms:
  • Scutula stereocaulorum (synonym of Catillaria stereocaulorum)
  • Bacidia declinis (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)
  • Bilimbia declinis (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)
  • Lecidea declinis (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)

Common Names

• Catillaria Lichen

Distribution and Habitat

• The Catillaria genus is found in various regions, including the Greater Sonoran Desert, Europe, and India.
• Some species are ubiquitous, while others have more restricted ranges, such as Catillaria gilbertii, which has also been recorded only from a specific mountain range.
• Specific species are also found in Cape Verde, The Netherlands, Turkey and the Iberian Peninsula.
• Several species of Catillaria are found in Britain and Ireland.
• Some species found in the Aegean.

Morphological Characteristics

• Catillaria lichens are generally crustose.
• Some species, like Catillaria nigroclavata, appear as tiny black dots on a dark grey or dark olivaceous thalline background. The black dots, or apothecia, are very small, ranging from just 0.15.
• Thallus crustose, 2-5 cm diam., often.

Ecology

• Some species of Catillaria are corticolous (growing on trees).
• Some species are found growing on the leaves of other plant species.
• Other species are found on rocks along marine and maritime habitats, or on wooden structures.

Further Information

• Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert.
• Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland.
• British Lichen Society - BLS Lichen Database.
• Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual.
• Drone-Application-Server database.