Allopyrenis M. Schultz & M. Prieto
Studies in Mycology, 109: 632,2024.
Systematics:
Phylum: Ascomycota Caval.-Sm.
Subphylum: Pezizomycotina O.E.Erikss. & Winka
Class: Lichinomycetes Reeb, Lutzoni & Cl.Roux
Order: Lichinales Henssen & Büdel
Family: Phylliscaceae Th. Fr.
Brief description: Thallus crustose, granulose, areolate to subsquamulose, dark reddish black, often attached by a thin gelatinous basal layer. Thallus homoiomerous, ecorticate, the hyphae forming a dense network around the cyanobiont cells, which are often attacked by finger-like fungal haustoria. Apothecia lecanorine, semi-immersed to sessile, usually small, often perithecioid, with a narrow, rarely expanded, usually slightly concave, dark reddish brown to blackish disc and a persisting, smooth, sometimes bulging thalline margin, with ascogones formed beneath pycnidia (pycnoascocarps). Proper exciple lacking; epithecium usually pale reddish brown, rarely colourless, hymenium colourless, K/I+ deep blue; paraphyses distinct, often robust, usually straight, rarely bent, often becoming (sub)moniliform with distinctly expanded terminal cells; subhymenium colourless, with a rounded base. Asci 8-spored (polysporous in one species), clavate to broadly clavate, unitunicate-rostrate, with a distinct K/I+ blue apical dome and a distinct outer gelatinous cap. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, broadly ellipsoid, small. Pycnidia usually more or less pyriform, with simple conidiophores. Conidia small-ellipsoid to short-bacilliform, produced terminally. Photobiont cyanobacterial, chroococcoid, with reddish, layered gelatinous sheaths. Chemistry: without lichen substances. Note: a recently-described genus in the Phylliscaceae, segregated from Pyrenopsis. For further details see Prieto & al. (2024). Type: Allopyrenis sanguinea (Anzi) M. Schultz & M. Prieto
