Ectolechiaceae

Sporopodium xantholeucum, photographed by André Aptroot.

Belongs within: Lecanoromycetidae.

The Ectolechiaceae are a mostly tropical family of lichens containing green algae.

Characters (from Cannon & Kirk 2007): Thallus usually foliose or crustose. Ascomata apothecial, pale, convex, without a well-developed margin. Interascal tissue of very narrow anastomosing pseudoparaphysis-like hyphae, variously pigmented, the apices thin-walled. Asci with a J+ apical cap and a very well-developed ocular chamber, with an outer J+ gelatinous layer, mostly 1- or 2-spored. Ascospores muriform, usually thin-walled. Sometimes with cephalodia. Anamorphs pycnidial, often with campylidia.

<==Ectolechiaceae
    |--Badimia EB03
    |--Badimiella EB03
    |--Barubria EB03
    |--Kantvilasia EB03
    |--Lasioloma EB03
    |--Loflammia EB03
    |--Logilvia EB03
    |--Lopadium EB03
    |--Sporopodiopsis EB03
    |--Tapellaria EB03
    |--Calopadia EB03 [incl. Cyrta E99, Pyrenotrichum E99]
    |    `--‘*Cyrta’ licaniae E99
    `--Sporopodium EB03 [incl. Acleistomyces E99]
         `--S. xantholeucum [incl. Acleistomyces zolleriae] E99

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

Cannon, P. F., & P. M. Kirk. 2007. Fungal Families of the World. CABI.

[E99] Eriksson, O. E. (ed.) 1999. Notes on ascomycete systematics. Nos 2440-2755. Myconet 2: 1-41.

[EB03] Eriksson, O. E., H. O. Barah, R. S. Currah, K. Hansen, C. P. Kurtzman, G. Rambold & T. Laessøe (eds.) 2003. Outline of Ascomycota—2003. Myconet 9: 1-89.