Cryptothecia

Cryptothecia is a genus of white to greenish crustose lichens that grow on bark, wood, or leaves. in tropical or subtropical areas worldwide.[1] It has a conspicuous prothallus that develops around its periphery which can be bright red in some species, hence the common name wreath lichen.[2] The main vegetative body (thallus) lacks a cortex (ecorticate and is often immersed in the substrate or byssoid (whispy, like teased wool).[1] The medulla is white, well defined, and often peppered with calcium oxalate crystals.[1] Ascomata are not well defined, being cushions of soft white mycelium immersed in the medullary tissue, hence the name from the Greek “krypto” = “to conceal” and “theke” = “a container or sheath”.[1] There are about 45 described species in the genus according to one source,[1] and 75 species according to another.[3] The genus is in the family Arthoniaceae.[4] It contains Trentepohlia, a green alga, as its photobiont ).

Cryptothecia
Cryptothecia sp. growing on a tree in Chaco Province, northern Argentina.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Arthoniomycetes
Order:
Arthoniales
Family:
Arthoniaceae
Genus:
Cryptothecia

Type species
Cryptothecia subnidulans
Species

C. atropunctata
C. candida
C. eungellae
C. exilis
C. inexspectata
C. rubrocincta
C. rubrocinctoides
C. scripta
...

Two species have been described in North America.[2] At least one species, Cryptothecia rubrocincta, has been used in Brazil as a source of dye.[5]

  • The Christmas wreath lichen, Cryptothecia rubrocincta

References
  1. CRYPTOTHECIA, Flora of Australia volume 57, John A. Elix, 2009
  2. Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press: New Haven.
  3. Kirk MP, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 181. ISBN 0-85199-826-7.
  4. Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM (December 2007). "Outline of Ascomycota – 2007". Myconet. Chicago, USA: The Field Museum, Department of Botany. 13: 1–58. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18.
  5. Mors, WB. 1966. Useful Plants of Brazil. Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco. Page 57.

Further reading
  • U.Makhija & P.G.Patwardhan, A contribution towards a monograph of the lichen genus Cryptothecia (family Arthoniaceae), Current Res. Pl. Sci. 1994: 57–72 (1994)
  • G.Thor, The genus Cryptothecia in Australia and New Zealand and the circumscription of the genus, Symb. Bot. Upsal. 32(1): 267–289 (1997)
  • R.Lücking, G.Thor, A.Aptroot, K.Kalb & J.A.Elix, The Cryptothecia candida complex revisited, Lichenologist 38: 235–240 (2006).


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