Roselviria is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae.[1] It has two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.[2]

Roselviria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Graphidales
Family: Gomphillaceae
Genus: Roselviria
Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023)
Type species
Roselviria purulhensis
(Lücking & Barillas) Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023)
Species

R. lobulimarginata
R. purulhensis

Taxonomy

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The genus was circumscribed in 2023 by the lichenologists Amanda Xavier-Leite, Marcela Cáceres, and Robert Lücking. The genus was named in honour of Roselvira Barillas, who pioneered the study of foliicolous lichens in Guatemala.[3]

The type species of the genus is Roselviria purulhensis, which was originally described as Tricharia purulhensis and later transferred to Aderkomyces before being recognised as belonging to its own genus. Molecular studies have shown that Roselviria is distinct from Aderkomyces, despite sharing some physical features like white setae. This finding suggests that these similar features evolved independently multiple times within the family.[3]

Description

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The lichens in this genus grow on living leaves and form a continuous layer on the leaf surface. Their most distinctive feature is their reproductive structures (apothecia), which protrude from the surface and are surrounded by small triangular lobes, similar to those found in the genus Chroodiscus. These structures are pale in colour and have two distinct margins: an inner proper margin and an outer thalline margin that forms the triangular lobes.[3]

Under the microscope, these lichens reveal several clear layers, including a colourless supporting tissue made of tightly packed fungal threads. They also possess specialised reproductive structures called hyphophores, which are white and bristle-like, with unique bead-like threads (diahyphae) attached at their tips.[3]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ "Roselviria". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. ^ Hyde, K.D.; Noorabadi, M.T.; Thiyagaraja, V.; He, M.Q.; Johnston, P.R.; Wijesinghe, S.N.; et al. (2024). "The 2024 Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa". Mycosphere. 15 (1): 5262–5263. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/15/1/25.
  3. ^ a b c d Xavier-Leite, Amanda Barreto; Goto, Bruno Tomio; Lücking, Robert; da Silva Cáceres, Marcela Eugenia (2023). "New genera in the lichenized family Gomphillaceae (Ascomycota: Graphidales) focusing on neotropical taxa". Mycological Progress. 22 (12): e88. doi:10.1007/s11557-023-01933-1.