PDF - CES (IISc)

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SYSTEMATIC
III. VERR UCARIA CEA E
In all the genera of this family the thallus is crustaceous, and, with very
few exceptions, the species are saxicolous or terricolous. The thallus is
variable within the crustaceous limits, and may be superficial and very
conspicuous, almost imperceptible, or wholly immersed in the substratum.
The algal cells are Protococcaceae, and in two of the genera the green cells
penetrate the hymenium and grow in rows alongside of the asci. The
perithecia are small roundish structures scattered over the thallus, the base
immersed, but the upper portion generally projecting. An outer darkcoloured
wall surrounds the whole perithecium (entire) or only the upper
or ostiole more or
exposed portion (dimidiate) ; it opens above by a pore
less prominent.
In some of the genera the paraphyses become dissolved at an early
stage, and somewhat similar filaments near the ostiole, termed periphyses,
aid in the expulsion of the spores. The spores vary in septation, colour
and size, and these variations have served to delimit the genera which
have been formed from the original very large genus Verrucaria. The ascus
may be 1-2-, 4- or 8-spored. In only one genus is it many-spored
( Trimmatothele).
The genera are as follows :
Perithecia with simple ostioles.
Paraphyses disappearing early, or wanting.
Spores simple, ellipsoid I. Verrucaria Web.
Spores simple, elongate vermiform 2. Sarcopyrenia Nyl.
Spores simple, numerous in the ascus 3. *Trimmatothele Norm.
Spores i-3-septate 4. Thelidium Massal.
Spores murifbrm (with transverse and longitudinal divisions).
Without hymenial gonidia 5. Polyblastia Massal.
With hymenial gonidia 6. Staurothele Norm.
Paraphyses present.
Spores simple.
Without hymenial gonidia 7. Thrombium Wallr.
With hymenial gonidia 8. *Thelenidia Nyl.
Spores 3-septate, broadly ellipsoid 9. *Geisleria Nitschke.
Spores acicular, many-septate 10. Gongylia Koerb.
Spores muriform u. Microglaena Lonnr.
Perithecia with a wide ring round the ostiole.
Spores muriform; paraphyses unbranched 12. *Aspidothelium Wain.
Spores elongate, many-septate; paraphyses branched 13. *Aspidopyrenium Wain.
IV. DERMATOCARPACEAE
In this family there is a much more advanced thalline development
generally squamulose or with some degree of foliose structure, though in
the genus Endocarpon, some of the species are little more than crustaceous.