Cryptothecia rubrocincta

Cryptothecia rubrocincta
Growing on guayaibi (Patagonula amaricana) tree in Chaco Province, northern Argentina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Arthoniaceae
Genus: Cryptothecia
Species:
C. rubrocincta
Binomial name
Cryptothecia rubrocincta
(Ehrenb.) G.Thor (1991)
Synonyms

Byssus sanguinea Sw.[1]
Chiodecton rubrocinctum (Ehrenb.) Nyl.[2]
Chiodecton sanguineum (Sw.) Vain.[3]
Corticium rubrocinctum (Ehrenb.) Bres.[4]
Herpothallon sanguineum (Sw.) Tobler
Hypochnus rubrocinctus Ehrenb.[5]
Hypochnus sanguineus (Sw.) Kuntze[6]
Thelephora sanguinea Sw.[7]

Cryptothecia rubrocincta is a species of lichen in the fungal family Arthoniaceae. The species is distributed in subtropical and tropical locations throughout the southeastern United States, as well as Central and South America, and has been collected infrequently in a few locales in Africa. The body of the lichen forms continuous, circular crust-like patches on dead wood, readily recognizable by the prominent red pigment. The older, central region is covered with red, spherical to cylindrical granules. Moving outwards from the center, zones of color may be distinguished, the first gray-green, the second white, and finally a bright red cottony rim. The red and green colors of this unmistakable woodland lichen give the appearance of a Christmas wreath, suggestive of its common North American name, the Christmas (wreath) lichen. The red pigment, called chiodectonic acid, is one of several chemicals the lichen produces to help tolerate inhospitable growing conditions.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Swartz1788 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nylander1862 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vainio1890 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bresadola1911 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ehrenberg1820 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kuntze1898 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Swartz1806 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).