# Opeltia

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{{Short description|Genus of lichen-forming fungi}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Caloplaca arizonica - Flickr - pellaea.jpg
| image_caption = ''Opeltia arizonica'' growing on [juniper](/source/juniper) wood near [Canyonlands National Park](/source/Canyonlands_National_Park), [Utah](/source/Utah)
| taxon = Opeltia
| authority = [S.Y.Kondr.](/source/S.Y.Kondr.) & [Lőkös](/source/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_S%C3%A1ndor_L%C5%91k%C3%B6s) (2017)
| type_species = Opeltia neobaltistanica
| type_species_authority = (S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös & Hur) S.Y.Kondr. & Lőkös (2017)
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = ''[O. arizonica](/source/Opeltia_arizonica)''<br />
''[O. flavorubescens](/source/Opeltia_flavorubescens)''<br />
''[O. juniperina](/source/Opeltia_juniperina)''<br />
''[O. neobaltistanica](/source/Opeltia_neobaltistanica)''
}}

'''''Opeltia''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of [lichen](/source/lichen)-forming [fungi](/source/fungi) in the family [Teloschistaceae](/source/Teloschistaceae). It has four species of [corticolous](/source/corticolous_lichen) (bark-dwelling), [crustose lichen](/source/crustose_lichen)s.<ref name="CoL"/>

==Taxonomy==
The genus was [circumscribed](/source/circumscription_(taxonomy)) in 2017 by lichenologists [Sergey Kondratyuk](/source/Sergey_Kondratyuk) and [Laszlo Lőkös](/source/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_S%C3%A1ndor_L%C5%91k%C3%B6s), with ''[O.&nbsp;neobaltistanica](/source/Opeltia_neobaltistanica)'' assigned as the [type species](/source/type_species). The genus name honours lichenologist [Josef Poelt](/source/Josef_Poelt), "in recognition of his enormous contribution to lichenology".<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017"/>

''Opeltia'' occupies a distinct [monophyletic](/source/monophyletic) branch within the ''Mikhtomia'' [clade](/source/clade), a [phylogenetic](/source/phylogenetic)ally related group of [taxa](/source/taxon) that also includes the genera ''[Hanstrassia](/source/Hanstrassia)'', ''[Laundonia](/source/Laundonia)'', and ''[Oxneriopsis](/source/Oxneriopsis)''. This clade is in the subfamily Caloplacoideae of the family [Teloschistaceae](/source/Teloschistaceae).<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017"/>

==Description==

''Opeltia'' shares similarities with ''[Blastenia](/source/Blastenia)''. However, it can be distinguished by certain key characteristics. The [thallus](/source/thallus) of ''Opeltia'' has a [crustose](/source/crustose_lichen) form, appearing {{lichengloss|areolate}} to {{lichengloss|squamulose|subsquamulose}} with an abrupt margin. Its colouration varies, typically presenting in shades of whitish, dirty white, and occasional yellowish tones. ''Opeltia'' lacks asexual [propagule](/source/propagule)s or [soredia](/source/soredia).<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017"/>

The [apothecia](/source/apothecia) of ''Opeltia'' are {{lichengloss|biatorine}}, occasionally manifesting as {{lichengloss|zeorine}}, biatorine, or {{lichengloss|lecanorine}}. The distinctive feature is the dark reddish-orange to rusty brown colouration of the apothecial {{lichengloss|disc}}. The {{lichengloss|true exciple}} in ''Opeltia'' has a {{lichengloss|paraplectenchymatous}} structure in the basal portion, transitioning into a mesodermatous paraplectenchymatous form with a well-developed matrix. A noteworthy trait is the presence of oil in the [hymenium](/source/hymenium) and subhymenium. Reproduction in ''Opeltia'' is characterized by eight-spored [asci](/source/ascus) and {{lichengloss|polarilocular}} ascospores that can be quite variable in shape.<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017"/>

==Habitat and distribution==

''Opeltia neobaltistanica'', and ''O.&nbsp;juniperina'' occur in Eurasia, while ''O.&nbsp;arizonica'' occurs in southern North America.<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017"/>

==Species==

* ''[Opeltia arizonica](/source/Opeltia_arizonica)'' {{au|(H.Magn.) S.Y.Kondr. & Lőkös (2017)}}
* ''[Opeltia flavorubescens](/source/Opeltia_flavorubescens)'' {{au|(Huds.) S.Y.Kondr. & Hur (2020)}}<ref name="Mishra et al. 2020"/>
* ''[Opeltia juniperina](/source/Opeltia_juniperina)'' {{au|(Tomin) S.Y.Kondr. & Lőkös (2017)}}
* ''[Opeltia neobaltistanica](/source/Opeltia_neobaltistanica)'' {{au|(S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös & Hur) S.Y.Kondr. & Lőkös (2017)}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="CoL">{{Catalogue of Life |id=68N9 |title=''Opeltia'' |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="Kondratyuk et al. 2017">{{cite journal |last1=Kondratyuk |first1=S.Y. |last2=Lőkös |first2=L. |last3=Upreti |first3=D.K. |last4=Nayaka |first4=S. |last5=Mishra |first5=G.K. |last6=Ravera |first6=S. |last7=Jeong |first7=M.-H. |last8=Jang |first8=S.-H. |last9=Park |first9=J.S. |last10=Hur |first10=J.S. |year=2017 |title=New monophyletic branches of the Teloschistaceae (lichen-forming Ascomycota) proved by three gene phylogeny |journal=Acta Botanica Hungarica |volume=59 |issue=1–2 |pages=71–136 [112–113] |doi=10.1556/034.59.2017.1-2.6 |hdl=10447/414429|hdl-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name="Mishra et al. 2020">{{cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=G.K. |last2=Upreti |first2=D.K. |last3=Nayaka |first3=S. |last4=Thell |first4=A. |last5=Kärnefelt |first5=I. |last6=Lőkös |first6=L. |last7=Hur |first7=J.-S. |last8=Sinha |first8=G.P. |last9=Kondratyuk |first9=S.Y. |title=Current taxonomy of the lichen family Teloschistaceae from India with descriptions of new species |journal=Acta Botanica Hungaricae |volume=62 |issue=3–4 |year=2020 |doi=10.1556/034.62.2020.3-4.5 |pages=309–391 |s2cid=228982203|doi-access=free }}</ref>

}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q43616736}}

Category:Teloschistales
Category:Teloschistales genera
Category:Lichen genera
Category:Taxa described in 2017
Category:Taxa named by Sergey Kondratyuk

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