# Lecanactis

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***Lecanactis*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [crustose lichens](/source/Crustose_lichen), [commonly called](/source/List_of_common_names_of_lichen_genera) **old wood lichens**.[1] The [mycobiont](/source/Mycobiont) ([fungus](/source/Fungus) partner) is in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Roccellaceae](/source/Roccellaceae).[2] The [photobiont](/source/Photobiont) is an [algae](/source/Algae) in the genus *[Trentepohlia](/source/Trentepohlia_(alga))*. These lichens typically grow as thin crusts on tree bark or rocks, producing small black [fruiting bodies](/source/Fruiting_bodies) that may appear as round discs or elongated slits. The genus contains about 40 species found worldwide, with some species considered rare and threatened by [habitat loss](/source/Habitat_loss).

## Taxonomy

The genus was [circumscribed](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) in 1855 by the German lichenologist [Gustav Wilhelm Körber](/source/Gustav_Wilhelm_K%C3%B6rber), who assigned *[Lecanactis abietina](/source/Lecanactis_abietina)* as the [type species](/source/Type_species). In his original description, Körber characterised *Lecanactis* as having pseudolecideine [apothecia](/source/Apothecia) (fruiting bodies) that are initially closed, then become widely open, with a rounded to somewhat irregular form. He noted that the apothecia typically have a prominent margin and distinguished the genus by its spore-bearing structures and thallus characteristics.[3]

Körber initially included several species in the genus, including *L. abietina*, *L. dilleniana*, and *L. biformis*. He recognised *Lecanactis* as a transitional genus that connects the lichens with the forms, noting the unique combination of initially closed apothecia that later expand and the distinctive thalline characteristics that separate it from related genera such as *[Opegrapha](/source/Opegrapha)*. The genus name *Lecanactis* reflects the -like appearance of the apothecia combined with their distinctive radiating or star-like (*actis*) arrangement when mature.[3]

A later nomenclatural review showed that the name *Lecanactis* had a complicated early history. Although the genus came into general use in the sense adopted by Körber in 1855, Anders Tehler pointed out that the name had earlier been used by [Franz Gerhard Eschweiler](/source/Franz_Gerhard_Eschweiler) in a different sense. To preserve the long-established usage of *Lecanactis* for the genus as understood by lichenologists, Tehler proposed [conserving](/source/Conserved_name) the name with *[Lecanactis abietina](/source/Lecanactis_abietina)* as its conserved type, rather than allowing it to be displaced by little-used alternatives such as *Scolecactis* or *Lecanactiomyces*.[4] In 1988, the Committee for Fungi and Lichens recommended adoption of *Lecanactis* in Körber's sense, with *L. abietina* as type, over the earlier [homonym](/source/Homonym_(biology)) published by Eschweiler, concluding that failure to conserve the name would greatly upset lichen nomenclature.[5]

In the broad concept used by [Alexander Zahlbruckner](/source/Alexander_Zahlbruckner) in the early 20th century, *Lecanactis* had become a heterogeneous assemblage containing about 140 species and numerous infraspecific taxa ([forms](/source/Form_(botany)), [varieties](/source/Variety_(botany)), and [subspecies](/source/Subspecies)). During the 1990s, that circumscription was narrowed as several [segregate](/source/Segregate_(taxonomy)) genera, including *[Cresponea](/source/Cresponea)*, *[Lecanographa](/source/Lecanographa)* and *[Sipmania](/source/Sipmania)*, were removed from *Lecanactis*, *[Catarraphia](/source/Catarraphia)* was reinstated, many species were transferred to *[Bactrospora](/source/Bactrospora)*, and eight former *[Schismatomma](/source/Schismatomma)* species were moved into *Lecanactis*. In a 1997 [cladistic](/source/Cladistic) study based on [morphological](/source/Morphology_(biology)), anatomical and chemical characters, Tehler and José Egea recovered *Lecanactis* sensu stricto as a [monophyletic](/source/Monophyletic) group, but found that relationships within the genus were only weakly supported, so they did not propose any subgeneric classification.[6]

## Description

*Lecanactis* species produce a thin, crust-forming [thallus](/source/Thallus) that adheres tightly to bark or rock. The surface may appear smooth, scurfy, cracked into irregular plates, or even minutely warted; a few species develop a powdery, texture. Some thalli spread without a clear edge, while others are neatly outlined by a dark brown to black marginal line called a . Unlike many lichens, the outer skin () is either rudimentary or absent, leaving the internal fungal tissue exposed. The [photosynthetic](/source/Photosynthesis) partner is always a filamentous [green alga](/source/Green_alga) from the genus *[Trentepohlia](/source/Trentepohlia_(alga))*, whose orange-tinged cells often tint the lichen faintly when viewed through a [hand lens](/source/Hand_lens).[7]

Reproduction takes place in small [fruiting bodies](/source/Fruiting_bodies) called [apothecia](/source/Apothecia), which can be round or elongate, pencil-like slits () that sit directly on the thallus surface. They are usually black but are often dusted with a pale, chalky bloom (). Because the surrounding thallus tissue does not form a border, the apothecia are rimmed only by the fungal —a dark, usually raised wall that can also pick up a pruinose coating. In microscopic section the exciple and underlying tissue are deep brown, and their pigments turn green when a drop of [potassium hydroxide](/source/Potassium_hydroxide) solution (the [K test](/source/K_test)) is applied. Inside each apothecium the [hymenium](/source/Hymenium)—the fertile layer—is either iodine-negative or briefly [stains](/source/Staining) reddish to blue. Slender, sparsely branched [paraphyses](/source/Paraphyses) stand among the asci, each paraphysis swelling slightly at its tip.[7]

Every [ascus](/source/Ascus) typically contains eight colourless, spindle-shaped [ascospores](/source/Ascospore) that are divided by three to seven (occasionally eight) internal wall ([septa](/source/Septum)); the walls stay thin and do not bulge at the septa. Separate flask-shaped structures ([pycnidia](/source/Pycnidia)) erupt as conspicuous, white-dusty cylinders and release minute, rod-like [conidia](/source/Conidia) that provide an additional means of [dispersal](/source/Biological_dispersal). Chemically the genus is marked by the presence of [orcinol](/source/Orcinol)-type [depsides](/source/Depside) and β-orcinol [depsidones](/source/Depsidone), along with [erythrin](/source/Erythrin) and several lesser-known substances.[7]

## Conservation

*[Lecanactis proximans](/source/Lecanactis_proximans)* was assessed as [critically endangered](/source/Critically_endangered) in 2023 for the [IUCN Red List](/source/IUCN_Red_List). The lichen is known from a single location in the Cerros Orientales (Eastern Hills) of [Bogotá](/source/Bogot%C3%A1), where it is threatened by habitat alteration and deforestation due to urban expansion, industrial development, and agricultural encroachment. The species has not been rediscovered in surveys of remnant forest patches in the area.[8]

## Species

As of April 2026, [species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum) (in the [Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)) include 39 species of *Lecanactis*.

- *[Lecanactis abietina](/source/Lecanactis_abietina)*
- *[Lecanactis albida](/source/Lecanactis_albida)*
- *[Lecanactis americana](/source/Lecanactis_americana)*
- *[Lecanactis arenae](/source/Lecanactis_arenae)*
- *[Lecanactis biformata](/source/Lecanactis_biformata)*
- *[Lecanactis borbonica](/source/Lecanactis_borbonica)* [9]
- *[Lecanactis bullata](/source/Lecanactis_bullata)*
- *[Lecanactis californica](/source/Lecanactis_californica)*
- *[Lecanactis canariensis](/source/Lecanactis_canariensis)* [10]
- *[Lecanactis citrina](/source/Lecanactis_citrina)* [11]
- *[Lecanactis coniochlora](/source/Lecanactis_coniochlora)*
- *[Lecanactis deightonii](/source/Lecanactis_deightonii)*
- *[Lecanactis develans](/source/Lecanactis_develans)*
- *[Lecanactis dubia](/source/Lecanactis_dubia)*
- *[Lecanactis endorhoda](/source/Lecanactis_endorhoda)*
- *[Lecanactis exigua](/source/Lecanactis_exigua)*
- *[Lecanactis flexans](/source/Lecanactis_flexans)*
- *[Lecanactis kerguelensis](/source/Lecanactis_kerguelensis)*
- *[Lecanactis lactescens](/source/Lecanactis_lactescens)*
- *[Lecanactis latispora](/source/Lecanactis_latispora)* [12]
- *[Lecanactis lecanoroides](/source/Lecanactis_lecanoroides)*
- *[Lecanactis lecideina](/source/Lecanactis_lecideina)*
- *[Lecanactis leprarica](/source/Lecanactis_leprarica)* [13] – Cameroon
- *[Lecanactis limosescens](/source/Lecanactis_limosescens)*
- *[Lecanactis lividula](/source/Lecanactis_lividula)*
- *[Lecanactis luteola](/source/Lecanactis_luteola)*
- *[Lecanactis lyncea](/source/Lecanactis_lyncea)*
- *[Lecanactis macrocarpa](/source/Lecanactis_macrocarpa)*
- *[Lecanactis malmideoides](/source/Lecanactis_malmideoides)* [14] – South America
- *[Lecanactis mawsonii](/source/Lecanactis_mawsonii)*
- *[Lecanactis minuta](/source/Lecanactis_minuta)* [11]
- *[Lecanactis minutissima](/source/Lecanactis_minutissima)* [15]
- *[Lecanactis mollis](/source/Lecanactis_mollis)* [11]
- *[Lecanactis nakajii](/source/Lecanactis_nakajii)*
- *[Lecanactis neozelandica](/source/Lecanactis_neozelandica)*
- *[Lecanactis neozelandica](/source/Lecanactis_neozelandica)* [12]
- *[Lecanactis olivascens](/source/Lecanactis_olivascens)*
- *[Lecanactis pallens](/source/Lecanactis_pallens)*
- *[Lecanactis platygraphoides](/source/Lecanactis_platygraphoides)*
- *[Lecanactis proximans](/source/Lecanactis_proximans)*
- *[Lecanactis quassiae](/source/Lecanactis_quassiae)*
- *[Lecanactis ramosus](/source/Lecanactis_ramosus)*
- *[Lecanactis redingeri](/source/Lecanactis_redingeri)*
- *[Lecanactis rockii](/source/Lecanactis_rockii)*
- *[Lecanactis rubra](/source/Lecanactis_rubra)* [16] – Madagascar
- *[Lecanactis salicina](/source/Lecanactis_salicina)*
- *[Lecanactis saltelii](/source/Lecanactis_saltelii)*
- *[Lecanactis scopulicola](/source/Lecanactis_scopulicola)* [17]
- *[Lecanactis scotommodes](/source/Lecanactis_scotommodes)*
- *[Lecanactis serograpta](/source/Lecanactis_serograpta)*
- *[Lecanactis serpentinicola](/source/Lecanactis_serpentinicola)*
- *[Lecanactis spermatospora](/source/Lecanactis_spermatospora)* [12]
- *[Lecanactis sphaerobola](/source/Lecanactis_sphaerobola)*
- *[Lecanactis stellaris](/source/Lecanactis_stellaris)* [18]
- *[Lecanactis subdilleniana](/source/Lecanactis_subdilleniana)* [19]
- *[Lecanactis subfarinosa](/source/Lecanactis_subfarinosa)*
- *[Lecanactis submollis](/source/Lecanactis_submollis)* [11]
- *[Lecanactis submorosa](/source/Lecanactis_submorosa)*
- *[Lecanactis sulphurea](/source/Lecanactis_sulphurea)* [12]
- *[Lecanactis takalae](/source/Lecanactis_takalae)*
- *[Lecanactis tibelliana](/source/Lecanactis_tibelliana)* [12]
- *[Lecanactis xanthococcoides](/source/Lecanactis_xanthococcoides)*
- *[Lecanactis zahlbruckneri](/source/Lecanactis_zahlbruckneri)*

## References

1. Brodo, Irwin M.; Sharnoff, Sylvia Duran; Sharnoff, Stephen (2001). *Lichens of North America*. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-300-08249-4.

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. Körber, Gustav Wilhelm (1855). [*Systema lichenum germaniae. Die Fletchen Deutschlands (insbesondere Schlesiens) Mikroskopische Geprüft, kritisch Gesichtet, charakterisch Beschrieben und systematisch Geordnet*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44648588) [System of German lichens. The lichens of Germany (especially Silesia) microscopically examined, critically assessed, characteristically described and systematically arranged] (in German). p. 275.

1. Tehler, A. (1986). "(820) Proposal to conserve *Lecanactis korber* with a conserved type (lichenes)". *Taxon*. **35** (2): 382–384. [doi:10.2307/1221304](https://doi.org/10.2307/1221304). [JSTOR 1221304](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1221304)

1. Korf, Richard P. (1988). "Report (N.S. 1) of the Committee for Ffungi and Lichens on proposals to conserve and/or reject names". *Taxon*. **37** (2): 450–463. [doi:10.2307/1222170](https://doi.org/10.2307/1222170). [JSTOR 1222170](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1222170)

1. Tehler, Anders & Egea, José M. (1997). "The phylogeny of *Lecanactis (Opegraphaceae)*". *The Lichenologist*. **29** (5): 397–414. [doi:10.1006/lich.1997.0095](https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1997.0095)

1. Cannon, P.; Aptroot, A.; Coppins, B.; Ertz, D.; Sanderson, N.; Simkin, J.; Wolseley, P. (2023). [*Arthoniales: Roccellaceae \[revision 1\], including the genera*Cresponea*,*Dendrographa*,*Dirina*,*Enterographa*,*Gyrographa*,*Lecanactis*,*Ocellomma*,*Pseudoschismatomma*,*Psoronactis*,*Roccella*,*Schismatomma*and*Syncesia'](https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Roccellaceae%20rev%201.pdf)**. Vol. 32. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens. p. 13.**

1. Moncada, B.; Simijaca, D.; Soto-Medina, E.; Coca, L.F.; Jaramillo, M. (2023). ["*Lecanactis proximans*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180142998/180164612). Retrieved 3 October 2024.

1. Ertz, Damien & Tehler, Anders (2010). "The phylogeny of Arthoniales (Pezizomycotina) inferred from nucLSU and RPB2 sequences". *Fungal Diversity*. **49** (1): 47–71. [doi:10.1007/s13225-010-0080-y](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-010-0080-y)

1. Van den Boom, P.P.G. & Etayo, J. (2006). ["New records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), with descriptions of some new species"](https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/sites/default/files/articles/pdf/cryptogamie-mycologie2006v27f4a6.pdf). *Cryptogamie, Mycologie*. **27** (4): 341–374.

1. Ertz, Damien; Tehler, Anders; Irestedt, Martin; Frisch, Andreas; Thor, Göran; van den Boom, Pieter (2015). "A large-scale phylogenetic revision of Roccellaceae (Arthoniales) reveals eight new genera". *Fungal Diversity*. **70** (1): 31–53. [doi:10.1007/s13225-014-0286-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-014-0286-5)

1. Egea, J.M. & Torrente, P. (1994). "El generos de hongos liquenizados *Lecanactis* (Ascomycotina)" (in Spanish). *Bibliotheca Lichenologica*. **54**: 108.

1. Kalb, Klaus & Aptroot, André (2021). ["New lichens from Africa"](http://www.fschumm.de/Archive/Vol%2028_Kalb_new%20records%20Africa.pdf). *Archive for Lichenology*. **28**: 1–12.

1. Kalb, Klaus & Aptroot, André (2018). "New lichen species from Brazil and Venezuela". *The Bryologist*. **121** (1): 56–66. [doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.056](https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.056)

1. Weerakoon, Gothamie & Aptroot, André (2016). ["Nine new lichen species and 64 new records from Sri Lanka"](http://publication.plazi.org/id/FFAFFFFAFFF0FF8BFFF531541728FFFC). *Phytotaxa*. **280** (2): 152–162. [doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.280.2.5](https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.280.2.5)

1. Ertz, Damien & Sérusiaux, Emmanuël (2009). "A new species of *Lecanactis* (Arthoniales, Roccellaceae) from Madagascar". *The Lichenologist*. **41** (2): 147–150. [doi:10.1017/S0024282909008287](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282909008287). [hdl:2268/10116](https://hdl.handle.net/2268/10116)

1. Kantvilas, Gintaras (2021). "*Lecanactis* (Roccellaceae) in Tasmania, with the description of a new saxicolous species and a revised key for the genus in Australia". *The Lichenologist*. **53** (1): 95–101. [doi:10.1017/s0024282920000456](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0024282920000456)

1. Egea, J.M. & Aptroot, André (1992). "*Lecanactis stellaris*, a new lichen from French Guiana". *Mycotaxon*. **45**: 93–96. [doi:10.5962/p.416212](https://doi.org/10.5962/p.416212)

1. Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Lőkös, L.; Farkas, E.; Oh, S.-O.; Hur, J.-S. (2015). ["New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi 3"](https://real.mtak.hu/36990/1/034.57.2015.3-4.7.pdf). *Acta Botanica Hungarica*. **57** (3–4): 345–382 [369]. [doi:10.1556/034.57.2015.3-4.7](https://doi.org/10.1556/034.57.2015.3-4.7)

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