# Paratricharia

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Single-species fungal genus

Paratricharia Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Graphidales Family: Gomphillaceae Genus: Paratricharia Lücking (1997) Species: P. paradoxa Binomial name Paratricharia paradoxa (Lücking) Lücking (1997) Synonyms[1] Tricharia paradoxa Lücking (1991)

***Paratricharia*** is a single-species fungal [genus](/source/Genus) in the family [Gomphillaceae](/source/Gomphillaceae).[2] It is [monotypic](/source/Monotypic), containing the single species ***Paratricharia paradoxa***, a [foliicolous](/source/Foliicolous_lichen) (leaf-dwelling) [lichen](/source/Lichen). A two-gene [molecular](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) study published in 2024 showed that the genus sits in the *Aulaxina* [clade](/source/Clade) and forms a strongly supported [sister lineage](/source/Sister_taxon) to *[Caleniopsis](/source/Caleniopsis)*, well away from *[Tricharia](/source/Tricharia)* and the other "black-setae" genera *[Microxyphiomyces](/source/Microxyphiomyces)* and *[Santricharia](/source/Santricharia)*.

## Taxonomy

Costa Rican material bearing robust, sterile black bristles (setae) was first described in 1991 as *Tricharia paradoxa*.[3] Subsequent work recognised that its [apothecia](/source/Apothecia)—tiny, disc-shaped spore-producing structures with a [carbonised](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#carbonised) margin—and a unique sterile column ([columella](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#columella)) in the centre of each [disc](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#disc) did not match *[Tricharia](/source/Tricharia)*, prompting [Robert Lücking](/source/Robert_L%C3%BCcking) to erect the new genus *Paratricharia* in 1997.[4]

Until recently the genus had not been sequenced, and its placement relied on [morphology](/source/Morphology_(biology)). Newly generated [mitochondrial](/source/Mitochondria) (mtSSU) and nuclear [ribosomal (nuLSU) DNA](/source/Ribosomal_DNA) sequences resolved *Paratricharia* as sister to *Caleniopsis*; together these genera form the earliest branch within a wider *Aulaxina* [clade](/source/Clade) that also contains *[Aulaxina](/source/Aulaxina)* and *[Aulaxinella](/source/Aulaxinella)*. The study rejected any close relationship with *Tricharia* despite the shared presence of long black [setae](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#setae), confirming that these bristles have evolved several times independently inside [Gomphillaceae](/source/Gomphillaceae).[5]

## Description

The [thallus](/source/Thallus) (lichen body) forms a thin, pale green film on living leaves in humid tropical forests. From it arise two conspicuous features. First are the carbon-black, hair-like setae—sterile, thick-walled bristles up to several millimetres long that give the colony a spiky appearance. Second are the minute blackish brown apothecia. Each apothecium has a heavily carbonised, slightly raised rim (a [zeorine](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#zeorine) margin) and encloses a central sterile column (columella), an uncommon feature within the family. The combination of setae and carbonised apothecia is diagnostic among foliicolous lichens.[5]

## Distribution and ecology

All confirmed collections come from lowland rainforests of Costa Rica, where the lichen grows on the upper surfaces of evergreen leaves. Like many foliicolous species it is thought to rely on frequent rainfall and high humidity for growth and spore dispersal.[5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Species_Fungorum_synonymy_1-0)** ["Synonymy. Current Name: *Paratricharia paradoxa* (Lücking) Lücking, Biblthca Lichenol. 65: 77 (1997)"](https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=436308). [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum). Retrieved 24 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CoL_2-0)** ["*Paratricharia*"](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/63LTN). *[Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)*. [Species 2000](/source/Species_2000): Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 24 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lücking_1991_3-0)** Lücking, R. (1991). "Neue Arten foliikoler Flechten aus Costa Rica, Zentralamerika" [New species of foliicolous lichens in Costa Rica, Central America]. *Nova Hedwigia* (in German). **52**: 267–304.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lücking_1997_4-0)** Lücking, R. (1997). "Additions and corrections to the knowledge of the foliicolous lichen flora of Costa Rica. The family Gomphillaceae". *Bibliotheca Lichenologica*. **65**: 1–109.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lücking_et_al._2024_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lücking_et_al._2024_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lücking_et_al._2024_5-2) Lücking, Robert; Chaves-Chaves, José Luis; Moncada, Bibiana (2024). ["Apothecia trump setae: *Paratricharia* belongs in the *Aulaxina* clade and is distant from *Tricharia* (lichenized Ascomycota: Gomphillaceae)"](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282924000380). *The Lichenologist*. **56** (6): 371–377. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2024ThLic..56..371L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024ThLic..56..371L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282924000380](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282924000380).

Taxon identifiers Paratricharia Wikidata: Q7136197 Wikispecies: Paratricharia CoL: 63LTN EoL: 23029 GBIF: 6610226 IndexFungorum: 27718 IRMNG: 1065315 MycoBank: 27718 Open Tree of Life: 4067132 SpeciesFungorum: 27718 Paratricharia paradoxa Wikidata: Q17387008 Wikispecies: Paratricharia paradoxa CoL: 6TS5Q EoL: 198763 GBIF: 3420007 IndexFungorum: 436308 IRMNG: 10397992 MycoBank: 436308 Open Tree of Life: 4067133 SpeciesFungorum: 436308 Tricharia paradoxa Wikidata: Q59563263 CoL: 7CR3M GBIF: 5476482 IndexFungorum: 128282 IRMNG: 11162375 MycoBank: 128282 SpeciesFungorum: 128282

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