# Phylloporis > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Phylloporis > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Phylloporis.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloporis > Source revision: 1310505095 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Phylloporis*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [lichen](/source/Lichen)-forming [fungi](/source/Fungi) in the family [Strigulaceae](/source/Strigulaceae).[1][2] It comprises seven species that are primarily found growing [on leaves](/source/Foliicolous_lichen), with occasional occurrences [on bark](/source/Corticolous_lichen) or [on rocks](/source/Saxicolous_lichen). ## Taxonomy The genus *Phylloporis* was originally established by [Frederic Clements](/source/Frederic_Clements) in 1909,[3] primarily to accommodate species with a [foliicolous](/source/Foliicolous_lichen) (leaf-dwelling) growth habit. Despite this, the genus was later merged into *[Strigula](/source/Strigula)* by some taxonomists due to shared anatomical characteristics, such as [ascus](/source/Ascus) type and internal anatomy. This broad generic concept was challenged by subsequent studies, which emphasised differences in thallus [morphology](/source/Morphology_(biology)) and preference. These distinctions have led to the resurrection of *Phylloporis* as a separate genus, supported by [molecular phylogenetics](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) evidence presented by Jiang and colleagues in 2020.[4] Currently, *Phylloporis* is recognised as a [basally](/source/Basal_(phylogenetics)) diverging [lineage](/source/Lineage_(evolution)) among the foliicolous [clades](/source/Clade) of *Strigula* [sensu lato](/source/Sensu_lato) (in the loose sense). Its supracuticular (surface-dwelling) thallus, in contrast to the subcuticular growth seen in other clades, is thought to be an [ancestral trait](/source/Ancestral_trait) shared with genera such as *[Flavobathelium](/source/Flavobathelium)* and *[Phyllobathelium](/source/Phyllobathelium)*. This supports the view that *Phylloporis* represents a distinct evolutionary lineage, distinct from *Strigula*.[4] ## Description The vegetative body, or [thallus](/source/Thallus), of *Phylloporis* lacks a protective outer layer () and is typically grey-green to grey in colour, forming a layer over its . This genus associates with the [green algal](/source/Green_alga) genus *[Phycopeltis](/source/Phycopeltis)* as its , which provides [photosynthetic](/source/Photosynthesis) capabilities.[4] *Phylloporis* produces sexual structures known as [perithecia](/source/Perithecia), which are specialised, rounded to conical fruiting bodies. These black structures can either erupt through the surface of the thallus or remain prominent and covered by the thallus layer. The perithecia are (composed of a hard, blackened material) and ostiolate, meaning they have a small opening ([ostiole](/source/Ostiole)) for spore release. Surrounding the perithecia is a hardened outer covering, the , which is also carbonised. The , or the layer of tissue beneath the involucrellum, has a net-like texture () and is dark brown to blackish.[4] Inside the perithecia, the —consisting of thread-like, unbranched [paraphyses](/source/Paraphyses)—is colourless ([hyaline](/source/Hyaline)) and slightly flexible. These structures are extremely fine, measuring only 0.5–0.7 [μm](/source/%CE%9Cm) in width. The asci (spore sacs) are , meaning they have two functional layers that assist in spore release, and contain eight spores each. These asci are cylindrical, with a short stalk (pedicel) and a narrow ocular chamber at the tip, and they do not react to [iodine](/source/Iodine) staining (non-[amyloid](/source/Amyloid_(mycology))). The spores are to [ellipsoid](/source/Ellipsoid), hyaline, and divided into two cells (uniseptate). They feature smooth walls and a slight constriction at the central [septum](/source/Septum).[4] The genus also produces asexual reproductive structures, the [pycnidia](/source/Pycnidia), which appear as small, black dots on the thallus. These structures often dominate thalli, which may produce only pycnidia. The spores produced in these structures, known as [conidia](/source/Conidia), can be of two types: macroconidia and microconidia. Macroconidia are larger, ellipsoid to rod-shaped (bacillar), and uniseptate, often with gelatinous appendages. In contrast, microconidia are smaller, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped (fusiform), and lack septa. Both types of conidia are transparent (hyaline). No [secondary metabolites](/source/Secondary_metabolite) or [lichen-specific chemicals](/source/Lichen_product) have been identified in *Phylloporis*.[4] ## Habitat and distribution *Phylloporis* species are primarily found growing on leaves, with occasional occurrences on bark or rocks. They inhabit terrestrial environments ranging from [lowland](/source/Lowland) regions to [montane](/source/Montane) zones within [tropical](/source/Tropical) and [subtropical](/source/Subtropical) climates.[4] ## Species As of January 2025, [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum) (in the [Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)) accept seven species of *Phylloporis*:[1] - *[Phylloporis austropunctata](/source/Phylloporis_austropunctata)* - *[Phylloporis cinefaciens](/source/Phylloporis_cinefaciens)* - *[Phylloporis hypothallina](/source/Phylloporis_hypothallina)* - *[Phylloporis palmae](/source/Phylloporis_palmae)* [5] - *[Phylloporis phyllogena](/source/Phylloporis_phyllogena)* - *[Phylloporis radiata](/source/Phylloporis_radiata)* - *[Phylloporis vulgaris](/source/Phylloporis_vulgaris)* ## References 1. Hyde, K.D.; Noorabadi, M.T.; Thiyagaraja, V.; He, M.Q.; Johnston, P.R.; Wijesinghe, S.N. et al. (2024). ["The 2024 Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385939154). *Mycosphere*. **15** (1): 5146–6239 [5225]. [doi:10.5943/mycosphere/15/1/25](https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/15/1/25). [hdl:1854/LU-8660838](https://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8660838) 1. Clements, F.E. (1909). *The Genera of Fungi*. Minneapolis: H.W. Wilson. pp. 41, 1734. 1. Hongsanan, Sinang; Hyde, Kevin D.; Phookamsak, Rungtiwa; Wanasinghe, Dhanushka N.; McKenzie, Eric H.C.; Sarma, V. Venkateswara et al. (2020). ["Refined families of Dothideomycetes: orders and families incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes"](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13225-020-00462-6.pdf). *Fungal Diversity*. **105** (1): 17–318. [doi:10.1007/s13225-020-00462-6](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-020-00462-6) 1. Jiang, Shu-Hua; Lücking, Robert; Liu, Hua-Jie; Wei, Xin-Li; Xavier-Leite, Amanda Barreto; Portilla, Carlos Viñas; Ren, Qiang; Wei, Jiang-Chun (2021). "Twelve new species reveal cryptic diversification in foliicolous lichens of *Strigula* s.lat. (Strigulales, Ascomycota)". *Journal of Fungi*. **8** (1): e2. [doi:10.3390/jof8010002](https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8010002). [PMC 8781847](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8781847). [PMID 35049942](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35049942) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Phylloporis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloporis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloporis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.