Glossary of lichen terms explained

This glossary provides an overview of terms used in the description of lichens, composite organisms arising from algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among filaments of multiple fungus species.[1] [2] Erik Acharius, known as the "father of lichenology," coined many lichen terms still in use today around the turn of the 18th century. Before that, only a couple of lichen-specific terms had been proposed. Johann Dillenius introduced in 1742 to describe the cup-shaped structures associated with genus Cladonia, while in 1794 Michel Adanson used for the furrowed fruitbodies of the genus Graphis. Acharius introduced numerous terms to describe lichen structures, including,,,,,, and . In 1825, Friedrich Wallroth published the first of his multi-volume work Naturgeschichte der Flechten ("Natural History of Lichens"), in which he proposed an alternative terminology based largely on roots from the Greek language. His work, presented as an alternative to that of Acharius (of whom he was critical) was not well received, and the only terms he proposed to gain widespread acceptance were and, and, and, the last of which remained in use until the 1960s. Until about 1850, there were 21 terms for features of the lichen thallus that remain in use today.

The increasing availability of the optical microscope as an aid to identifying and characterizing lichens led to the creation of new terms to describe structures that were previously too small to be visualized. Contributions were made by Julius von Flotow (e.g.), Edmond Tulasne (e.g), and William Nylander (e.g.,). Gustav Wilhelm Körber, an early proponent of using spore structure as a in lichen taxonomy, introduced,, and "polari-dyblastae", later anglicized to "polari-bilocular" and then shortened to . In the next five decades that followed, many other additions were made to the repertoire of lichen terms, subsequent to the increased understanding of lichen anatomy and physiology made possible by microscopy. For whatever reasons, there were not any new terms (still currently used) introduced from the period 1906 to 1945, when Gustaf Einar Du Rietz proposed replacing and with and ; all four terms remain in use. In some cases, older terminology became obsolete as better understanding of the nature of the fungal–algal relationship led to changes in their terminology. For example, after Gunnar Degelius objected to the use of for the algal partner, George Scott proposed the use of and for lichen components, recommendations that were generally accepted by lichenologists.

This glossary includes terms defining features of lichens unique to their composite nature, such as the major components the two major components of lichens ( and ); specialized structures in lichen physiology; descriptors of types of lichens; two- and three-dimensional shapes used to describe spores and other lichen structures; terms of position and shape; prefixes and suffixes commonly used to form lichen terms; terminology used in methods for the chemical identification of lichens; the names of 22 standard insoluble lichen pigments and their associated reference species; and "everyday" words that have a specialized meaning in lichenology. The list also includes a few historical terms that have been supplanted or are now considered obsolete. Familiarity with these terms is helpful for understanding older literature in the field.

A

See main article: Amyloid (mycology).

See main article: Ascocarp.

See main article: article and Ascus.

B

See main article: Basidiolichen.

See main article: article and Bryophilous lichen.

C

See main article: Cephalodium.

See main article: Chemotype.

See main article: Conidium.

See main article: Cortex (botany).

See main article: Corticolous lichen.

See main article: Crustose lichen.

See main article: Cyanolichen.

D

See main article: Diaspore (botany).

E

See main article: ellipsoid.

See main article: exsiccata.

F

See main article: Foliicolous lichen.

See main article: Foliose lichen.

See main article: Friability.

See main article: Fruticose lichen.

See main article: Fusiform.

G

See main article: Lichen growth forms.

H

See main article: Holdfast (biology).

See main article: Hyaline.

See main article: Hymenium.

See main article: Hypha.

I

See main article: Incertae sedis.

See main article: Isidium.

L

See main article: Lactophenol cotton blue.

See main article: Lichenicolous lichen.

See main article: Lignicolous lichen.

M

See main article: Medulla (lichenology).

See main article: Microcrystallization.

See main article: Mycophycobiosis.

O

See main article: Ostiole.

P

See main article: Plasticolous lichen.

See main article: Plectenchyma.

See main article: Podetium.

See main article: Pseudocyphella.

R

See main article: Rhizine.

S

See main article: Saxicolous lichen.

See main article: Septum.

See main article: Sessility (botany).

See main article: Spot test (lichen).

See main article: Squamulose lichen.

See main article: Stroma (tissue).

See main article: Substrate (biology).

T

See main article: Taxon.

See main article: Terricolous lichen.

See main article: Tessellation.

See main article: Thallus.

V

See main article: Vagrant lichen.

See main article: Vegetative reproduction.

See also

See main article: Outline of lichens.

Citations

Sources

Book: Thomas Hawkes Nash III

. Thomas H. . Nash III . Nash . T.H. III . Thomas Hawkes Nash III . 1. Introduction . Lichen Biology . 2nd . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, UK . 2008 . 978-0-521-69216-8 . 1–8.

Book: Rosmarie Honegger

. Thomas H. . Nash III . Honegger . R. . Rosmarie Honegger . 3.Mycobionts . Lichen Biology . 2nd . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, UK . 2008 . 978-0-521-69216-8 . 27–39.

Book: Thomas H. . Nash III . Büdel . B. . Scheidegger . C. . 4.Thallus morphology and anatomy . Lichen Biology . 2nd . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, UK . 2008 . 978-0-521-69216-8 . 40–68.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014-08-22 . Introduction to Lichens . 2022-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140822081404/http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/lichens/lichens.html . 2014-08-22 .
  2. Web site: 2014-07-02 . What is a lichen? - Lichen website . 2022-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140702131823/http://www.anbg.gov.au/lichen/what-is-lichen.html . 2014-07-02 .

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