The Caliciaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. Although the family has had its classification changed several times throughout its taxonomic history, the use of modern molecular phylogenetic methods have helped to establish its current placement in the order Caliciales. Caliciaceae contains 39 genera and about 670 species. The largest genus is Buellia, with around 300 species; there are more than a dozen genera that contain only a single species.
Most Caliciaceae grow on bark, dead wood, or rocks. Some members of this family, particularly those of the type genus, Calicium, are characterized by the presence of thin-walled and short-lasting asci (spore-bearing cells) and a mazaedium, which is an accumulation of loose, maturing spores covering the surface of the fruiting body. The resulting passive spore dispersal is relatively rare amongst the Ascomycota. The mazaedium, usually black, either sits atop a long thin stalk, or rests on (or is sometimes immersed within) the surface of the lichen substrate. Many other Caliciaceae species generate spores in an apothecium, which typically resembles a flattened black disc.
The family contains species with crustose (crusty), foliose (leafy), and, in a few instances, fruticose (shrubby) growth forms. The photobiont partner of Caliciaceae lichens is usually from the green algal genus Trebouxia. Collectively, the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, and can be found on all major land masses. Although the family is best represented in mountainous areas of temperate and tropical regions, a few hardy species can survive the harsh environment offered by Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys by growing in cracks on the surface of rocks. Five Caliciaceae species are included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Some air pollution-resistant species in the genus Pyxine have been investigated for use as biomonitors of heavy metal pollution. Several fossils of Caliciaceae found as inclusions in amber have been used to evaluate the evolutionary history of the family.
^Cite error: The named reference Frey 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
The Caliciaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. Although the family has...
species of corticolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in East Africa, it was scientifically described as a new species...
species of lichen belonging to the genus Dirinaria within the family Caliciaceae. It was described by Kalb in 2004. Dirinaria neotropica is characterized...
Buellia quarryana is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in southeastern Australia, it was described as a new species in 2020...
Buellia gypsyensis is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in the Falkland Islands, it was described as a new species in 2019...
species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in Thailand, it was formally described as a new species in 2009...
species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in Portugal, it was formally described as a new species in 2011...
Calicium quercinum is a species of lichen belonging to the family Caliciaceae. It is native to Europe and Northern America. "Calicium quercinum Pers"...
Buellia magaliesbergensis is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in South Africa, it was formally described as a new species in...
species of lignicolous (wood-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is found in Australia. Baculifera confusa was formally described...
species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in East Africa, it was scientifically described as a new species...
Dermatiscum is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus contains two species found in South Africa and North America. Kirk PM...
Buellia capensis is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in South Africa, it was formally described as new species in 2021 by...
Buellia subeffigurata is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in South Africa, it was formally described as a new species in...
Dirinaria is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical regions, and contains...
Diploicia is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in temperate regions, and contains...
Buellia foecunda is a lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It was first described in 1966 by Rex Filson from a specimen found on rocks in Mac. Robertson...
Gassicurtia is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus was circumscribed by French botanist Antoine Laurent Apollinaire Fée in...
Calicium corynellum is a species of pin lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is found scattered across parts of Europe, North America, and Asia, where...
Amandinea clandestinus is a species of crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae, and found in New South Wales. It was first described in 2013 by Australian...
Fluctua is a lichen genus in the family Caliciaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single crustose lichen species Fluctua megapotamica. The genus was...
species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It was first described from samples collected from the British National...
Acroscyphus is a fungal genus in the family Caliciaceae. This is a monotypic genus, containing the single fruticose lichen species Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides...
Allocalicium is a single-species fungal genus in the family Caliciaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single pin lichen species Allocalicium adaequatum...
Monerolechia is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. Monerolechia bayrhofferi (Schaer.) Trevis. (1857) Monerolechia californica (H.Magn...
Chaenothecopsis vainioana is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Caliciaceae that is found in Europe. It was first formally described by Czech lichenologist...
species of lignicolous (wood-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. This lichen is characterised by its grey, areolate thallus that produces...
species of lignicolous (wood-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is widely distributed in Europe, and also occurs in the United States...
species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. Found in Europe, it was described as new to science in 2011. Lumbsch...
Global Information
