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catillaria lichen

Scientific Name: Catillaria

Family: Catillariaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Catillaria Lichen

The genus Catillaria encompasses a variety of crustose lichens. Several species and their characteristics have been documented across various regions.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Catillaria A. Massal.
  • Common Name: Catillaria Lichen
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Family: CATILLARIACEAE
  • Synonyms:
    • Scutula stereocaulorum (synonym of Catillaria stereocaulorum)
    • Catillaria subnitida Hellbom (synonym of Catillaria tristis)
    • Bacidia declinis (Tuck.) Zahlbr. (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)
    • Bilimbia declinis (Tuck.) Fink (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)
    • Lecidea declinis Tuck. (synonym of Catillaria nigroclavata)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Catillaria species are found in diverse environments, including:
    • Greater Sonoran Desert
    • Dorset, Britain and Ireland
    • India (montane regions)
    • Turkey
    • Cape Verde
    • Aegean region
    • Taiwan
    • Antarctic (maritime rocks)
  • They are often found growing on:
    • Rocks
    • Trees (epiphytic)
    • Marine and maritime rocks
    • Leaves (e.g., Nestegis apetala)
    • Bird perches (Catillaria corymbosa in Antarctica)
  • Some species, like Catillaria chalybeia, are described as ubiquitous.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Catillaria lichens are typically crustose.
  • Catillaria chalybeia has a thallus that is crustose, 2-5 cm in diameter.
  • Some species, such as what appears to be an unnamed lichen described as "Catillaria glauconigricans," are powdery white with black dots.
  • Catillaria nigroclavata appears 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.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Some Catillaria species grow on the leaves of plants like Nestegis apetala.
  • Catillaria corymbosa in Antarctica is often associated with bird perches.

Resources and Further Information

  • Greater Sonoran Desert Lichen Flora (Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2001)
  • Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland (Anon 1986)
  • Lichen Flora of the (Hertel, H. Nash III, T.H. and Ryan, B.D. (2007) Catillaria (pp. 220-226) In: Nash III , T.H., Gries, C., and Bungartz, F. (eds.))
  • British Lichen Society - BLS Lichen Database
  • Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual