# Cornicularia

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This article is about the genus of fungi. For the genus of spiders, see [Walckenaeria](/source/Walckenaeria).

***Cornicularia*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [lichenised](/source/Lichen) [ascomycetes](/source/Ascomycete) in the large family [Parmeliaceae](/source/Parmeliaceae).[1] It is a [monotypic](/source/Monotypic) genus, with a single currently accepted species, the [saxicolous lichen](/source/Saxicolous_lichen) ***Cornicularia normoerica***, and is sometimes referred to as the **bootstrap lichen**.[2] The lichen forms small, dark tufts rarely exceeding 2 cm in height that are anchored so firmly to rocks, with narrow, stiff branches topped by shiny black reproductive discs. It grows on high-elevation, sun-exposed rocks and boulders, where its compact, shrub-like appearance and glossy black-brown surface make it distinctive among mountain lichens.

## Taxonomy

*Cornicularia* was originally proposed as a [section](/source/Section_(botany)) of the genus *Lichen* by [Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber](/source/Johann_Christian_Daniel_von_Schreber) in 1791.[3] [Erik Acharius](/source/Erik_Acharius) promoted it to generic status in 1803.[4]

## Description

*Cornicularia* is represented by a single species, *Cornicularia normoerica*, which forms neat, dark tufts that rarely exceed 2 cm in height. The lichen body ([thallus](/source/Thallus)) stands erect and is anchored so firmly that it must be cut or scraped away from rock or bark. Its main branches are narrow—about 0.3–0.6 mm across—stiff, and slightly flattened, with few side-branches. Each branch tapers abruptly near the tip and arises from a repeatedly dividing [holdfast](/source/Holdfast_(biology)), giving the tuft a shrub-like outline. The surface is a glossy black-brown and is protected by an unusually thick outer skin () made of densely packed, parallel [hyphae](/source/Hypha). Inside, the fungal partner shelters rounded [green algal](/source/Green_alga) cells of the genus *[Trebouxia](/source/Trebouxia)*, which supply [photosynthetic](/source/Photosynthesis) sugars.[5]

Reproduction in *C. normoerica* is mainly [sexual](/source/Sexual_reproduction): most branch tips carry black, shiny ([apothecia](/source/Apothecia)) one to five millimetres wide. These discs may sprout a few short, rod-like extensions and gradually overtop the branch apex. Each spore sac ([ascus](/source/Ascus)) is club-shaped with a thickened tip and releases eight smooth, colourless [ascospores](/source/Ascospore) measuring about 5–6 × 3–4 [μm](/source/%CE%9Cm). [Asexual](/source/Asexual_reproduction) propagules also occur: half-sunken, spherical [pycnidia](/source/Pycnidia) dot the branch ends and secrete thread-like [conidia](/source/Conidia) roughly 6.5–7.5 μm long. Chemical analyses have yet to detect any [secondary metabolites](/source/Secondary_metabolite), which differentiates the species from many other shrubby lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. The combination of a firmly attached, sparsely branched tuft, abundant apical apothecia, and the absence of detectable lichen products are characters to help distinguish *C. normoerica* in the field.[5]

## Ecology

*Cornicularia normoerica* is a [saxicolous](/source/Saxicolous_lichen) (rock-dwelling) species, growing on high-elevation, sun-exposed rocks and boulders.[2]

## References

1. Wijayawardene, Nalin; Hyde, Kevin; Al-Ani, Laith Khalil Tawfeeq; Somayeh, Dolatabadi; Stadler, Marc; Haelewaters, Danny et al. (2020). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa". *Mycosphere*. **11**: 1060–1456. [doi:10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8](https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8). [hdl:10481/61998](https://hdl.handle.net/10481/61998)

1. Brodo, Irwin M.; Sharnoff, Sylvia Duran; Sharnoff, Stephen (2001). *Lichens of North America*. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-0-300-08249-4.

1. von Schreber, Johann Christian Daniel (1791). [*Genera plantarum*](https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/viewer/12946/?offset=#page=396&viewer=picture&o=bookmark&n=0&q=) (in Latin). Vol. 2. Frankfurt am Main: Suntu Varrentrapii et Wenneri. p. 768.

1. Acharius, E. (1803). [*Methodus qua Omnes Detectos Lichenes Secundum Organa Carpomorpha ad Genera, Species et Varietates Redigere atque Observationibus Illustrare Tentavit Erik Acharius*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44218392) (in Latin). Stockholm: F.D.D. Ulrich. p. 300.

1. Cannon, P.; Divakar, P.; Yahr, R.; Aptroot, A.; Clerc, P.; Coppins, B.; Fryday, A.; Sanderson, N.; Simkin, J. (2023). [*Lecanorales: Parmeliaceae, including the genera*Alectoria*,*Allantoparmelia*,*Arctoparmelia*,*Brodoa*,*Bryoria*,*Cetraria*,*Cetrariella*,*Cetrelia*,*Cornicularia*,*Evernia*,*Flavocetraria*,*Flavoparmelia*,*Hypogymnia*,*Hypotrachyna*,*Imshaugia*,*Melanelia*,*Melanelixia*,*Melanohalea*,*Menegazzia*,*Montanelia, Nesolechia, *Parmelia*, Parmelina, *Parmeliopsis*, *Parmotrema*, *Platismatia,*Pleurosticta, *Protoparmelia*, *Pseudephebe*, *Pseudevernia*, *Punctelia*, *Raesaenenia, Tuckermannopsis,*Usnea*,*Vulpicida*and*Xanthoparmelia'](https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Parmeliaceae%20R3.pdf)**. Vol. 33. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens. pp. 21–22.**

## External links

- [*Cornicularia normoerica*](http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/Cornicularia) at the Stridvall's Botanical Site
- [*Cornicularia normoerica*](http://www.sharnoffphotos.com/lichensB/cornicularia_normoerica.html) at Sharnoff Photos

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cornicularia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornicularia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornicularia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.