Psoroma
Genus of lichen-forming fungi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Psoroma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Pannariaceae. The widespread genus contains about 30 species,[4] most of which are found in south temperate regions.[5]
| Psoroma | |
|---|---|
| Psoroma hypnorum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Peltigerales |
| Family: | Pannariaceae |
| Genus: | Psoroma Ach. ex Michx. (1803) |
| Type species | |
| Psoroma hypnorum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Taxonomy
The genus was circumscribed by the French botanist André Michaux in 1803.[6]
Some species formerly in Psoroma were transferred to the new genera Psorophorus and Xanthopsoroma in 2010.[7] The genus Joergensenia was erected in 2008 to contain the species formerly known as Psoroma cephalodinum.[8]
Description
The genus Psoroma is characterised by its small scale-like thallus, with an underlying layer that is barely noticeable. It houses a green algal photobiont, possibly the algae Myrmecia, which collaborates with the fungus to perform photosynthesis. Psoroma species have cephalodia, structures containing the cyanobacterium Nostoc.[9]
The reproductive organs, known as ascomata, are apothecial in form—essentially sessile and somewhat cup-shaped with a raised, enduring edge. Within these structures, the supporting filaments, or paraphyses, may be simple or branch towards their tips, which do not expand or form a cap, staining a dusky blue when iodine is applied. The spore-producing asci are elongated, either club-shaped or cylindrical, featuring a distinctive structure at their tips where a central tube stains blue with iodine within a lighter-staining area, surrounded by a clear amyloid ring.[9]
Spores produced by Psoroma are single-celled, colourless, and often contain one or two large oil droplets. Their shape is ellipsoidal, with a surface that is warty or ridged, and somewhat pointed at the ends. For asexual reproduction, Psoroma develops pycnidia, which are pale brown, and produces simple, rod-shaped, colourless conidia.[9]
Chemically, Psoroma usually lacks detectable secondary metabolites (lichen products) through thin-layer chromatography, although in rare cases, porphyrilic acid and related compounds may be present.[9]
Species
As of March 2024[update], Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 28 species of Psoroma.[4]

- Psoroma absconditum Øvstedal (2008)[10]
- Psoroma antarcticum S.G.Hong & Elvebakk (2018)[11] – Antarctica
- Psoroma asperellum Nyl. (1869)
- Psoroma caliginosum Stirt. (1877)
- Psoroma capense Elvebakk, S.G.Hong & Rämä (2020) – South Africa[12]
- Psoroma cinnamomeum Malme (1925)
- Psoroma cyanosorediatum P.M.Jørg. (2004)
- Psoroma dichroum (Hook.f. & Taylor) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoroma echinaceum P.M.Jørg. & Wedin (1999)[13]
- Psoroma esterhuyseniae Elvebakk (2020) – South Africa[12]
- Psoroma filicicola P.M.Jørg. & Sipman (2006)
- Psoroma fruticulosum P.James & Henssen (1983)[14]
- Psoroma geminatum P.M.Jørg. (1999)[13]
- Psoroma hirsutulum Nyl. ex Cromb. (1875)
- Psoroma hypnorum (Vahl) Gray (1821)[15]
- Psoroma inflatum Elvebakk (2021)[16] – New Zealand
- Psoroma macquariense C.W.Dodge (1970)[17] – Antarctica
- Psoroma macrosporum (P.M.Jørg. & Palice) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoroma multifidum P.M.Jørg. (2004)[15]
- Psoroma nigropunctatum Elvebakk & Elix (2021)[18] – Australia
- Psoroma nivale Fryday, Elvebakk, F.L.Anderson & J.Gagnon (2019)[19] – Quebec, Canada
- Psoroma obscurius (Nyl.) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoroma orphninum (Hue) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoroma paleaceum (Fr.) Nyl. (1855)
- Psoroma pholidotoides (Nyl.) Trevis. (1869)
- Psoroma polychidioides (Zahlbr.) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoroma saccharatum Scutari & Calvelo (1995)[20] – Argentina
- Psoroma sphinctrinum (Mont.) Nyl. (1855)
- Psoroma xanthorioides (P.M.Jørg.) P.M.Jørg. (2014)
- Psoromaria rosulata (P.M.Jørg. & D.J.Galloway) P.M.Jørg. & H.L.Andersen (2015)
- Psoromaria versicolor (Müll.Arg.) P.M.Jørg. & H.L.Andersen (2015)