Teloschistes chrysophthalmus

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Teloschistes
Species: T. chrysophthalmus
Binomial name
Teloschistes chrysophthalmus

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, often referred to as the gold-eye lichen or golden-eye, is a fruticose lichen with branching lobes. Their sexual structures, apothecia, are bright-orange with spiny projections (cilia) situated around the rim.[1][2][3] It has a global distribution, but is often localized and rare in many parts of its range.[4] Colonies most often form along coastal areas.

It is a twig species, meaning that it grows on twigs. It is rarely abundant. Several sites were discovered along the coast of England during 2012 and 2013, where the hosts include hawthorn and apple trees.[5] In America it is known to grow on California live oak, dwarf coyote brush, Peritoma arborea, and magnolias.[2]

The genus name Teloschistes means "split ends", referring to the branched tips of the lichen. Chrysophthalmus in turn is formed from chryso and phthalmus meaning "gold eyed" referring to the orange or red apothecia.

References

  1. ↑ 5.Church, J. M., Coppins, B. J., Gilbert, O. L., James, P. W. & Stewart, N. F. (1996) Red Data Book of Britain and Ireland: lichens. Volume 1: Britain. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
  2. 1 2 Lichens: an illustrated guide to the British species, F. Dobson, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd., 2000.
  3. ↑ 3.UK BAP, May 2002
  4. ↑ Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria
  5. ↑ Wessex Lichen Group
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