# Thecographa

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Genus of lichens

Thecographa Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Graphidales Family: Graphidaceae Genus: Thecographa A.Massal. (1860) Type species Thecographa prosiliens (Mont. & Bosch) A.Massal. (1860) Species T. ceramia T. crassilabra T. prosiliens Synonyms[1] Emblemia Pers. (1827) Megalographa A.Massal. (1860) Phaeographina Müll.Arg. (1882) Phaeographinomyces Cif. & Tomas. (1953)

***Thecographa*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [lichen](/source/Lichen)-forming [fungi](/source/Fungi) in the family [Graphidaceae](/source/Graphidaceae).[2] It has three species of [corticolous](/source/Corticolous_lichen) (bark-dwelling) [script lichens](/source/Script_lichen).[3] The genus was [circumscribed](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) by [Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo](/source/Abramo_Bartolommeo_Massalongo) in 1860. Although Massalongo did not assign a [type species](/source/Type_species) for the genus, [David L. Hawksworth](/source/David_L._Hawksworth) set *[Thecographa prosiliens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thecographa_prosiliens&action=edit&redlink=1)* as the type in 1981.[4] [Morphological](/source/Morphology_(biology)) characteristics of the genus include its [sessile](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#sessile) [lirella](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#lirella) (fruiting bodies), the lack of a [thalline margin](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#thalline_margin), and the complete [carbonisation](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#carbonisation) of the [excipulum](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#excipulum).[5]

## Description

The genus *Thecographa* features [apothecia](/source/Apothecia) (fruiting bodies) that are initially closed and embedded ([hypophloedal](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#hypophloedal)), but later erupt to become open, elevated, and urn-shaped ([urceolate](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#urceolate)). These apothecia often appear almost stalked, and are characteristically flexible, twisted, and angular. They are rarely and sparsely branched. The apothecia are equipped with a distinctive, [carbonaceous](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#carbonaceous) excipulum that is cup-shaped. This structure is thin but consistent, enveloped by the thallus or tree bark on which the lichen lives. Over time, the covering epidermis may gradually disappear.[6]

The [disc](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#disc) of the apothecia is gelatinous, flattened, and tends to lose its colour, supported by a solid, almost papery base known as the [hypothecium](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#hypothecium). The [asci](/source/Ascus) (spore-producing structures) are club-shaped and contain 2-4-8 spores, accompanied by [paraphyses](/source/Paraphyses) (sterile filaments interspersed among the asci). The spores are elliptical or ovoid, [muriform](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#muriform) (with multiple divisions), initially transparent but becoming cloudy and opaque over time. The thallus of *Thecographa* is spread out and irregularly shaped, embedding itself into the [substrate](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#substrate).[6]

## Species

- *[Thecographa ceramia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thecographa_ceramia&action=edit&redlink=1)* A.Massal. (1860)

- *[Thecographa crassilabra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thecographa_crassilabra&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Mont. & Bosch) A.Massal. (1860)

- *[Thecographa prosiliens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thecographa_prosiliens&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Mont. & Bosch) A.Massal. (1860)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Species_Fungorum_synonymy_1-0)** ["Synonymy. Current Name: *Thecographa* A. Massal., Atti Inst. Veneto Sci. lett., ed Arti, Sér. 3 5: 316 (1860) \[1859-1860\]"](https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=5415). [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum). Retrieved 9 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CoL_2-0)** ["*Thecographa*"](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/7VGZ). *[Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)*. [Species 2000](/source/Species_2000): Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 9 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wijayawardene_et_al._2022_3-0)** Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). ["Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358798332). *Mycosphere*. **13** (1): 53–453 [161]. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2](https://doi.org/10.5943%2Fmycosphere%2F13%2F1%2F2). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1854/LU-8754813](https://hdl.handle.net/1854%2FLU-8754813).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hawksworth_&_Sherwood_1981_4-0)** Hawksworth, David L.; Sherwood, Martha A. (1981). "(559)–(579) Proposals for nomina conservanda and rejicienda for ascomycete names (lichenized and non-lichenized)". *Taxon*. **30** (1): 338–348. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1219426](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1219426). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1219426](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1219426).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lücking_et_al._2009_5-0)** [Lücking, Robert](/source/Robert_L%C3%BCcking); [Archer, Alan W.](/source/Alan_W._Archer); [Aptroot, André](/source/Andr%C3%A9_Aptroot) (2009). "A world-wide key to the genus *Graphis* (Ostropales: Graphidaceae)". *The Lichenologist*. **41** (4): 363–452. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/s0024282909008305](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0024282909008305).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Massalongo_1860_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Massalongo_1860_6-1) Massalongo, A.B. (1860). ["Esame comparative di alcuni generi di licheni"](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044092906627&view=1up&seq=328). *Atti dell'Imperiale Regio Istituto veneto di scienze, lettere ed arti*. 3 (in Italian). **5** (5): 316.

Taxon identifiers Thecographa Wikidata: Q107289461 Wikispecies: Thecographa CoL: 7VGZ GBIF: 3416891 IndexFungorum: 5415 IRMNG: 1085385 MycoBank: 5415 SpeciesFungorum: 5415

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