# Porpidia

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Porpidia
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Porpidia.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porpidia
> Source revision: 1340123601
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Porpidia Porpidia albocaerulescens Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Lecideales Family: Lecideaceae Genus: Porpidia Körb. (1855) Type species Porpidia trullisata (Kremp.) Körb. (1855) Synonyms[1] Haplocarpon M.Choisy (1936) Huilia Zahlbr. (1930)

***Porpidia*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [crustose lichens](/source/Crustose_lichen) in the family [Lecideaceae](/source/Lecideaceae).[2] *Porpidia* species primarily inhabit [siliceous rocks](/source/Siliceous_rock), pebbles, and stonework, with rare occurrences on bark, wood, and compacted soil. The [thallus](/source/Thallus), or body of the lichen, varies in appearance from thick and crusty to barely visible. It may form a continuous layer or develop cracks resulting in a segmented, [areolate](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#areolate) structure. The colour of the thallus ranges from grey and white to orange.

## Taxonomy

*Porpidia* was [circumscribed](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) by the German lichenologist [Gustav Wilhelm Körber](/source/Gustav_Wilhelm_K%C3%B6rber) in 1855, with *[Porpidia trullisata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_trullisata&action=edit&redlink=1)* designated as the [type species](/source/Type_species).[3]

## Description

Genus *Porpidia* consists of [crustose lichens](/source/Crustose_lichen), meaning the [thallus](/source/Thallus) (the main body of the lichen) is closely attached to the surface it grows on. The thallus can vary in appearance, from thick and scaly to almost invisible, and may be solid or cracked into small pieces called [areoles](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#areoles). Its colour typically ranges from grey to white, though some species may show orange hues. A [prothallus](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#prothallus), a thin, often black or orange border between neighbouring lichens, may be present but is not always visible. The lichen's inner structure, or [medulla](/source/Medulla_(lichenology)), may or may not react with [iodine](/source/Iodine) (I+ or I–), and some species produce powdery [soredia](/source/Soredia) for reproduction, while others do not. One species of *Porpidia* even has [isidia](/source/Isidia)—small, finger-like structures that aid in reproduction. The lichen's [green algae](/source/Green_algae) partner is usually from the genera *[Trebouxia](/source/Trebouxia)* or *[Asterochloris](/source/Asterochloris)*.[4]

The [apothecia](/source/Apothecia) (fruiting bodies) are common and can appear either scattered or in clusters. These round, dark brown to black [discs](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#discs) are often relatively large, ranging from 0.5 to 3 mm in diameter, and may be coated with a frosty layer (a [pruina](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#pruina)). The apothecia have a distinct outer margin, which may fade as the lichen ages, and are seated directly on the surface of the thallus without a [thalline margin](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#thalline_margin) (a rim formed by the thallus itself). The rim surrounding the apothecia is usually dark blue-black or brown, and made of tightly packed fungal filaments.[4]

Under the surface, the reproductive layer (the [hymenium](/source/Hymenium)) reacts with iodine (I+) to turn blue, a useful trait for identification. The [asci](/source/Ascus), the spore-producing sacs, each hold eight spores and have a distinctive shape called the "*Porpidia*-type". The [ascospores](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#ascospores) are typically [ellipsoid](/source/Ellipsoid) and measure 15–22 μm long, with a thick outer layer. In some species, other reproductive structures, known as [conidiomata](/source/Conidiomata), are present and often have a rough surface.[4]

## Species

*Porpidia cinereoatra*

*Porpidia crustulata*

*Porpidia ochrolemma*

As of May 2025[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia&action=edit), [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum) accepts 41 species of *Porpidia*:[5]

- *[Porpidia albocaerulescens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_albocaerulescens&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Wulfen) Hertel & Knoph (1984)

- *[Porpidia cinereoatra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_cinereoatra&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Ach.) Hertel & Knoph (1984)

- *[Porpidia circumnigrata](/source/Porpidia_circumnigrata)* (Vězda) Knežević & Mayrhofer (2008)

- *[Porpidia contraponenda](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_contraponenda&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Arnold) Knoph & Hertel (1984)

- *[Porpidia crustulata](/source/Porpidia_crustulata)* (Ach.) Hertel & Knoph (1984)

- *[Porpidia degelii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_degelii&action=edit&redlink=1)* (H.Magn.) Lendemer (2014)

- *[Porpidia flavicunda](/source/Porpidia_flavicunda)* (Ach.) Gowan (1989)[6]

- *[Porpidia flavocruenta](/source/Porpidia_flavocruenta)* Fryday & Buschbom (2005) - Austria, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Iceland, and North America (Alaska)[7]

- *[Porpidia grisea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_grisea&action=edit&redlink=1)* Gowan (1989)[6]

- *[Porpidia hydrophila](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_hydrophila&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Fr.) Hertel & A.J.Schwab (1984)

- *[Porpidia hypostictica](/source/Porpidia_hypostictica)* L.Hu & Z.T.Zhao (2015)[8] – China

- *[Porpidia irrigua](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_irrigua&action=edit&redlink=1)* Orange (2014)[9]

- *[Porpidia islandica](/source/Porpidia_islandica)* Fryday (2005) - Scotland and Iceland[7]

- *[Porpidia kashmirensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_kashmirensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Fayyaz, Afshan, Niazi & Khalid (2022) – Pakistan

- *[Porpidia littoralis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_littoralis&action=edit&redlink=1)* P.M.McCarthy & Elix (2018)[10] – Australia

- *[Porpidia lowiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_lowiana&action=edit&redlink=1)* Gowan (1989)[6]

- *[Porpidia macrocarpa](/source/Porpidia_macrocarpa)* (DC.) Hertel & A.J.Schwab (1984)

- *[Porpidia melinodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_melinodes&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Körb.) Gowan & Ahti (1993)

- *[Porpidia nadvornikiana](/source/Porpidia_nadvornikiana)* (Vězda) Hertel (1984)

- *[Porpidia navarina](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_navarina&action=edit&redlink=1)* U.Rupr. & Türk (2016)[11] – Chile

- *[Porpidia ochrolemma](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_ochrolemma&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Vain.) Brodo & R.Sant. (1995)

- *[Porpidia pachythallina](/source/Porpidia_pachythallina)* Fryday (2005) - British Isles[7]

- *[Porpidia platycarpoides](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_platycarpoides&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Bagl.) Hertel (1987)

- *[Porpidia rugosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_rugosa&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Taylor) Coppins & Fryday (2005)

- *[Porpidia seakensis](/source/Porpidia_seakensis)* Fryday (2020)[12] – [Alaska](/source/Alaska)

- *[Porpidia shangrila](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_shangrila&action=edit&redlink=1)* Xin Y.Wang & Lu L.Zhang (2012)[13] – China

- *[Porpidia soredizodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_soredizodes&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Lamy) J.R.Laundon (1989)

- *[Porpidia speirea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_speirea&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Ach.) Kremp. (1861)

- *[Porpidia squamosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_squamosa&action=edit&redlink=1)* Xin Y.Wang & Lu L.Zhang (2012)[13] – China

- *[Porpidia stephanodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_stephanodes&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Stirt.) Hertel (1984)

- *[Porpidia striata](/source/Porpidia_striata)* Fryday (2005) - British Isles[7]

- *[Porpidia submelinodes](/source/Porpidia_submelinodes)* Osyczka & Olech (2011)[14] – Antarctica

- *[Porpidia subsimplex](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_subsimplex&action=edit&redlink=1)* (H.Magn.) Fryday (2006)

- *[Porpidia superba](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_superba&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Körb.) Hertel & Knoph (1984)

- *[Porpidia thomsonii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_thomsonii&action=edit&redlink=1)* Gowan (1989)[6]

- *[Porpidia trullisata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_trullisata&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Kremp.) Körb. (1855)

- *[Porpidia tuberculosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_tuberculosa&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Sm.) Hertel & Knoph (1984)

- *[Porpidia ulleungdoensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_ulleungdoensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* S.Y.Kond., L.Lőkös & J.P.Halda (2019)[15] – [Ulleungdo](/source/Ulleungdo), South Korea

- *[Porpidia umbonifera](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_umbonifera&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Müll.Arg.) Rambold (1989)

- *[Porpidia vulcanoides](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_vulcanoides&action=edit&redlink=1)* Hertel & Fryday (2014)

- *[Porpidia zeoroides](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porpidia_zeoroides&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Anzi) Knoph & Hertel (1984)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Species_Fungorum_synonymy_1-0)** ["Synonymy: *Porpidia* Körb"](https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=4359). [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum). Retrieved 31 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wijayawardene_et_al._2020_2-0)** Wijayawardene, Nalin; Hyde, Kevin; Al-Ani, LKT; Dolatabadi, S; Stadler, Marc; Haelewaters, Danny; et al. (2020). ["Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa"](https://doi.org/10.5943%2Fmycosphere%2F11%2F1%2F8). *Mycosphere*. **11**: 1060–1456. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8](https://doi.org/10.5943%2Fmycosphere%2F11%2F1%2F8). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10481/61998](https://hdl.handle.net/10481%2F61998).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Körber_1855_3-0)** Körber, G.W. (1855). [*Systema lichenum Germaniae*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/23747678#page/265/mode/1up) (in Latin). Breslau: Verlag von Trewendt & Granier. p. 221.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fryday_et_al._2024_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fryday_et_al._2024_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Fryday_et_al._2024_4-2) Fryday, A.; Cannon, P.; Coppins, B.; Aptroot, A.; Sanderson, A.; Simkin, J. (2024). [*Lecideales, including*Amygdalaria*,*Bellemerea*,*Bryobilimbia*,*Cecidonia*,*Clauzadea*,*Farnoldia*,*Immersaria*,*Koerberiella*,*Lecidea*,*Lecidoma*,*Porpidia*,*Porpidinia*and*Romjularia*(Lecideaeae) and*Lopadium*(Lopadiaceae)*](https://britishlichensociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Lecideales.pdf) (PDF). Revisions of British and Irish Lichens. Vol. 40. pp. 32–33.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CoL-Species_Fungorum_5-0)** ["*Porpidia*"](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/63PMS). *[Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)*. [Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew](/source/Royal_Botanic_Gardens%2C_Kew). [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum). Retrieved 27 May 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gowan_1989_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gowan_1989_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gowan_1989_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Gowan_1989_6-3) Gowan, S.P. (1989). "The lichen genus *Porpidia* (Porpidiaceae) in North America". *The Bryologist*. **92** (1): 25–59. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3244016](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3244016). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3244016](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3244016).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fryday_2005_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fryday_2005_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Fryday_2005_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Fryday_2005_7-3) Fryday, Alan M. (2005). "The genus *Porpidia* in northern and western Europe, with special emphasis on collections from the British Isles". *The Lichenologist*. **37** (1): 1–35. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282904014628](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282904014628).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Zhao_et_al._2016_8-0)** Zhao, Xiang-Xiang; Zhang, Lu-Lu; Miao, Cong-Cong; Zhao, Zun-Tian (2016). "A new species of *Porpidia* from China". *The Lichenologist*. **48** (3): 229–235. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282916000128](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282916000128).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Orange_2014_9-0)** Orange, Alan (2014). "*Porpidia irrigua*, a new species related to *P. contraponenda*". *The Lichenologist*. **46** (3): 269–284. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282914000073](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282914000073).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Elix_&_McCarthy_2018_10-0)** Elix, J.A.; McCarthy, P.M. (2018). "Ten new lichen species (Ascomycota) from Australia". *Australasian Lichenology*. **82**: 20–59.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ruprecht_et_al._2016_11-0)** Ruprecht, Ulrike; Søchting, Ulrik; Türk, Roman (2016). "*Porpidia navarina*, a new endemic species from Isla Navarino (Southern Tierra del Fuego, Chile)". *Herzogia*. **29** (2): 596–609. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.13158/heia.29.2.2016.596](https://doi.org/10.13158%2Fheia.29.2.2016.596).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Spribille_et_al._2020_12-0)** Spribille, Toby; Fryday, Alan M.; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio; Svensson, Måns; Tønsberg, Tor; Ekman, Stefan; Holien, Håkon; Resl, Philipp; Schneider, Kevin; Stabentheiner, Edith; Thüs, Holger; Vondrák, Jan; Sharman, Lewis (2020). ["Lichens and associated fungi from Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7398404). *The Lichenologist*. **52** (2): 61–181. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282920000079](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282920000079). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [7398404](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7398404). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32788812](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32788812).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wang_et_al._2012_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wang_et_al._2012_13-1) Wang, Xin Yu; Zhang, Lu Lu; Joshi, Yogesh; Wang, Hai Ying; Hur, Jae Seoun (2012). "New species and new records of the lichen genus *Porpidia* (Lecideaceae) from western China". *The Lichenologist*. **44** (5): 619–624. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0024282912000242](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0024282912000242).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Osyczka_&_Olech_2011_14-0)** Osyczka, Piotr; Olech, Maria (2011). "A new species of the genus *Porpidia* from Antarctica". *The Lichenologist*. **43** (4): 367–371. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S002428291100017X](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS002428291100017X).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kondratyuk_et_al._2019_15-0)** Kondratyuk, S. Y.; Halda, J. P.; Lőkös, L.; Yamamoto, Y.; Popova, L. P.; Hur, J.-S. (2019). ["New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi 8"](https://real.mtak.hu/93956/1/034.61.2019.1-2.8.pdf) (PDF). *Acta Botanica Hungarica*. **61** (1–2): 101–135. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1556/034.61.2019.1-2.8](https://doi.org/10.1556%2F034.61.2019.1-2.8).

Taxon identifiers Porpidia Wikidata: Q7230357 Wikispecies: Porpidia AusLichen: 30019402 CoL: 63PMS EoL: 22559 EPPO: 1PPIDG FloraBase: 27533 GBIF: 2603408 iNaturalist: 125754 IndexFungorum: 4359 IRMNG: 1292129 ITIS: 190055 MycoBank: 4359 NBN: NHMSYS0001494680 NCBI: 40596 NZOR: fb40b439-c085-4dae-860e-3a4b43c48b7e Open Tree of Life: 1014721 PLANTS: PORPI2 SpeciesFungorum: 4359 WoRMS: 988590

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