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catolechia lichen

Scientific Name: Catolechia

Family: Rhizocarpaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Catolechia wahlenbergii: Wahlenberg's Catolechia Lichen

Catolechia wahlenbergii, commonly known as Wahlenberg's Catolechia Lichen or Wahlenberg's Goblin Lights Lichen, is a fascinating example of a lichenized fungus.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Catolechia wahlenbergii (Ach.) Flot. ex Krb.
  • Common Names: Wahlenberg's Catolechia Lichen, Wahlenberg's Goblin Lights Lichen
  • Synonyms:
    • Buellia pulchella
    • Buellia wahlenbergii
    • Lichen pulchellus Schrad.
  • Family: Rhizocarpaceae
  • Group: Lichen
  • Rank: Species

Distribution and Habitat

  • Rare Goblin Lights (Catolechia wahlenbergii) are found on Ben Nevis, British Isles.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Catolechia wahlenbergii is lichenous, with a placodioid-crustose or placodioid-foliose thallus.
  • The thallus can be granular, granulose, or granulate in appearance.
  • It presents as a lumpy yellow lichen.

Ecological Role

  • Catolechia wahlenbergii is lichenized, meaning it exists in a mutualistic relationship with algal photobionts (e.g., Elliptochloris bilobata).

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • It forms a symbiotic relationship with algae, specifically Elliptochloris bilobata, which serves as its phycobiont.

Further Information

  • EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Explore what EOL knows about Catolechia.
  • LIAS (A Global Information System for Lichenized and Non-Lichenized Ascomycetes): This is Catolechia wahlenbergii (Ach.) Flot. ex Krb. as seen by LIAS.
  • NCBI Taxonomy: Genus recognized by NCBI Taxonomy