Chrysothrix

Chrysothrix
Chrysothrix chlorina, Unteres Rannatal, Austria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Chrysotrichaceae
Genus: Chrysothrix
Mont. (1852)
Type species
Chrysothrix noli-tangere
(Mont.) Mont. (1852)
Synonyms[1][2]

Chrysothrix is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Chrysotrichaceae.[3] They are commonly called gold dust lichens or sulfur dust lichens,[4]: 253  because they are bright yellow to greenish-yellow, sometimes flecked with orange, and composed entirely of powdery soredia.[5] Apothecia are never present in North American specimens.[5]

They grow on bark or rocks, generally in shaded habitats.[5] They can sometimes be mistaken for sterile specimens of Chaenotheca, which usually has pinhead apothecia on tiny stalks, or Psilolechia, which usually has small, bright yellow apothecia.[5] Chrysothrix chlorina was traditionally used as a brown dye for wool in Scandinavia.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Species Fungorum synonymy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference May 2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wijayawardene et al. 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2
  5. ^ a b c d Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press: New Haven. ISBN 0-300-08249-5
  6. ^ Uphof, J. C. T. 1959. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Hafner Publishing Co.: New York.