Lithothelium kiritea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lithothelium kiritea | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Eurotiomycetes |
| Order: | Pyrenulales |
| Family: | Pyrenulaceae |
| Genus: | Lithothelium |
| Species: | L. kiritea |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithothelium kiritea | |
Lithothelium kiritea is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Pyrenulaceae. Found in New Zealand, it was formally described as a new species in 2024. The lichen exclusively grows on the bark of Cordyline australis.
The species was described in 2024 by Andrew J. Marshall, André Aptroot, Peter de Lange and Dan Blanchon.[1] The type specimen collected from Whatipu on the west coast of the Waitākere Ranges in March 2024, from the bark of Cordyline australis. The holotype is kept at the herbarium of Unitec Institute of Technology in Mount Albert.[1] The species epithet, kiritea, is based on the Māori language word meaning white skinned, bestowed on the species after discussions with the west coast Auckland iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki.[1]
