The Roccellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Arthoniomycetes. Most taxa are lichenized with green algae, although some are lichenicolous, growing on other lichens.
Dirina is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. All Dirina species are crustose lichens with a whitish to greyish brown thallus, and live either on rock or on bark–some species can live on both. The photobiont partner is a member of the green algal genus Trentepohlia. Most species occur in the Northern Hemisphere, and are generally restricted to coastal habitats, where they may be locally quite common. Erythrin and lecanoric acid are lichen products that usually occur in Dirina species, along with several other unidentified substances.
Crocellina is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Roccellaceae. It contains the single species Crocellina cinerea, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen that is endemic to Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean. This species was first described in 1882 by Swiss botanist Johannes Müller Argoviensis as Dirina cinerea, and later transferred to genus Roccellina in 1983. Crocellina was circumscribed in 2014 by Anders Tehler and Damien Ernst, following molecular phylogenetic analysis and revision of the Roccellaceae.
Vigneronia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. It has five species. The genus was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ernst, with Vigneronia spieri assigned as the type species. This species, originally described as Schismatomma spieri from collections made in the Galápagos Islands, has since been recorded from mainland Ecuador and the Antilles (Curaçao). The genus is named after Ernst's wife, Nathalie Vigneron, who accompanied him on collecting trips.
Psoronactis is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Roccellaceae. It contains the single species Psoronactis dilleniana, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen. This species was first described in 1799 by Swedish lichenologist Erik Acharius as Lichen dillenianus. The taxon was shuffled to several genera in the 1800s as different authors had different opinions on how to classify the species; in more modern times, it was transferred to genus Lecanographa in 2013. Psoronactis was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ernst and Anders Tehler, following molecular phylogenetic analysis and revision of the Roccellaceae that showed the species occupied a distinct lineage in the family. The genus name alludes to the lichen products present in its thallus: psoromic acid and 2'-O-demethylpsoromic acid. It is these compounds that differentiate it chemically from the similar genus Lecanactis.
Gyrographa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ernst and Anders Tehler, with Gyrographa gyrocarpa assigned as the type species. This lichen, originally described by Julius von Flotow in 1825, was first placed in the genus Opegrapha. Species in the genus have a crustose thallus lacking a cortex, and a dark brown prothallus. The photobiont partner is trentepholioid. The hypothecium is thick and carbonised, and the ascospores lack a gelatinous sheath; these characteristics distinguish it from Opegrapha species. The genus name alludes to the gyrose ascomata of the type species.
Gyronactis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. It has two species. The genus was circumscribed by Damien Ernst and Anders Tehler in 2014, with G. asiatica assigned as the type species. This lichen, formerly placed in Lecanactis, is only known from the type locality in Myanmar. The genus name alludes to both its similarity with Lecanactis and the presence of gyrophoric acid in the thallus.
Pseudoschismatomma is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Roccellaceae. It contains the single species Pseudoschismatomma rufescens, a corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen. This species was first described in 1794 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon as Opegrapha rufescens. Pseudoschismatomma was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ernst and Anders Tehler, following molecular phylogenetic analysis and revision of the Roccellaceae. The genus name alludes to its similarity with genus Schismatomma, particularly S. graphidioides. It differs from this species in having a distinct brown true exciple.
Ocellomma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ertz and Anders Tehler, following a molecular phylogenetic-based revision of the Roccellaceae. The type species, O. picconianum, was originally named Lecania picconiana by Francesco Baglietto in 1862, described from specimens collected in Italy. DNA-based phylogenetic analysis showed that it occupied a distinct genetic lineage, deserving of recognition as a new genus. The genus name Ocellomma alludes to the whitish rims on the small ascomata that contrast with the discs, giving them the appearance of small eyes.
Dirina catalinariae is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It occurs in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Galápagos Islands.
Dirina angolana is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in Angola, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by lichenologists Anders Tehler and Damien Ertz. The type specimen was collected by the first author north of Palmeirinhas. It is only known to occur in Angola, where it grows preferentially on baobab tree trunks, usually near the sea. The species epithet refers to the country of its type locality.
Dirina arabica is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in Socotra, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by lichenologists Anders Tehler and Damien Ernst. The type specimen was collected by the first author near the village in Homill, at an altitude of 350 m (1,150 ft). The species epithet refers to Arabia, the geographical location encompassing the type locality. The lichen is endemic to Socotra, where it grows on Eocene limestone rocks. It has a creamy-white, slightly pruinose thallus that is 0.1–0.5 mm thick and a chalk-like medulla. There are no soralia on the thallus. The ascomata have a circular outline and measure up to 2.0 mm in diameter, and have a pruinose, white-grey disc with a thalline margin. Dirina arabica is a sister species to Dirina immersa, a sympatric species that can be distinguished from the former by its immersed ascomata.
Dirina badia is a species of crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is found on the small desert mountains of northern Peru, where it grows on both stone and on bark.
Dirina canariensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is found in the Canary Islands, where it grows on vertical cliffs and acidic rocks. It was formally described as a new species in 2013 by lichenologists Anders Tehler and Damien Ertz. The type specimen was collected by the first author from the Puerto de Mogán ; the species epithet refers to the type locality. The lichen has a creamy-white to brownish-white thallus, a chalk-like medulla, and either soralia or apothecia on the thallus surface. If apothecia are present, they have a circular outline with a diameter of up to 1.5 mm; the discs are pruinose and encircled by a thalline margin. Ascospores measure 20–25 by 4–5 μm. The closest relatives of Dirina canariensis are the European species D. ceratoniae, D. massiliensis, and D. fallax.
Dirina candida is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is found in the southern Mediterranean Basin, with a range extending east to Egypt and Libya. It grows on calcareous rocks that are close to the sea. The lichen was formally described as a new species in 1885 by Johannes Müller Argoviensis from specimens collected in Alexandria, Egypt. Anders Teher and Damien Ertz transferred it to Dirina in 2013. Tehler had previously (1983) referred this species to Dirina immersa, but later molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that it should instead be considered a distinct species, despite the two sharing the same appearance, morphology, and chemistry.
Dirina cretacea is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Its distribution is largely in the eastern Mediterranean, and in Andalusia, Spain. It was formally described as a new species in 1899 by Alexander Zahlbruckner as a member of the genus Chiodecton. The type specimen was collected in Croatia. Anders Tehler transferred it to the genus Dirina in 1983. The lichen has a whitish-grey thallus lacking soralia, and a chalk-like medulla. Its ascomata have a circular outline and a diameter of up to 3.8 mm; the apothecial disc is also white grey with a layer of pruina, and is surrounded by a thalline margin. Ascospores measure 19–23 by 5–6 μm.
Vigneronia spieri is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is found in the Galápagos Islands, mainland Ecuador and the Antilles (Curaçao).
Dirina sorocarpa is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in Cape Verde, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by Anders Tehler and Damien Ertz. The lichen has a creamy white to white-brownish thallus measuring 0.1–0.5 mm thick and a chalk-like medulla. Its ascospores are 21–30 by 4–5 μm. The species epithet alludes to the fact that the ascocarps, if they are present, are often partially sorediate or are produced on the same regions of the thallus as the soralia.
Enterographa incognita is a little-known species of crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in Southeast Thailand, it is characterised by its sorediate features and its distinct ascomata and ascospores. This lichen, only known to occur in its type locality, thrives on large trunks in a mangrove environment.
Fulvophyton is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellographaceae. It has 11 species. Fulvophyton is characterised by its crust-like thallus, which is often pale yellowish-brown in colour. This genus features a photobiont from the green algal genus Trentepohlia and exhibits a unique arrangement of reproductive structures.
