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Catillaria Lichen

Catillaria is a genus of crustose lichens belonging to the family Catillariaceae.

Common Names

• Catillaria Lichen

Scientific Names and Synonyms

• Current Taxon Name: Catillaria stereocaulorum
• Synonym: Scutula stereocaulorum
• Synonym: Catillaria subnitida Hellbom
• Catillaria nigroclavata (Nyl.) Schuler = Bacidia declinis (Tuck.) Zahlbr. = Bilimbia declinis (Tuck.) Fink = Lecidea declinis Tuck.
• Catillaria chalybeia (Borrer) Massal.

Distribution and Habitat

• Catillaria species can be found in various locations, including the Greater Sonoran Desert, India, Britain and Ireland, Cape Verde, The Netherlands, Turkey, the Aegean region, Italy and marine and maritime rocks
• Some species, like Catillaria corymbosa, are endemic to maritime Antarctic regions.
• Some species like Catillaria laureri are epiphytic, growing on trees in systematic woodlands.

Morphological Characteristics

• Catillaria nigroclavata appears as tiny black dots on a dark grey or dark olivaceous thalline background.
• The apothecia (black dots) of some species are very small, ranging from just 0.15.
• Catillaria chalybeia has a crustose thallus, typically 2-5 cm in diameter.
• Catillaria glauconigricans is a crust lichen that is powdery white with black dots.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Kingdom: Fungi (inferred from the text)
• Genus: Catillaria A. Massal.
• Family: Catillariaceae
• The genus Catillaria s. lat. has been the subject of morphotaxonomic studies.

Ecology and Interactions

• Some Catillaria species grow on the leaves of Nestegis apetala.
• Catillaria nigroclavata is sometimes found surrounded by a Lecanora species.

Resources and 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