Nanostictis

Nanostictis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Ostropales
Family: Stictidaceae
Genus:
M.S.Christ. (1954)
Type species
Nanostictis peltigerae
M.S.Christ. (1954)

Nanostictis is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi in the family Stictidaceae.[1] These tiny fungi produce minute fruiting bodies that remain embedded within their host lichens and are characterised by very slender, thread-like ascospores divided by multiple cross-walls. The genus contains nine species that parasitise various lichen hosts, though its relationship to similar genera remains uncertain due to the lack of molecular studies on any Nanostictis species.

Taxonomy

The genus was circumscribed in 1954 by the Danish lichenologist Mogens Skytte Christiansen, with Nanostictis peltigerae assigned as the type species.[2]

The generic limits of Nanostictis remain unsettled. Its type species was separated from the superficially similar genus Cryptodiscus mainly because it produces very slender, thread-like ascospores and lives exclusively on lichens, usually those in the order Peltigerales. Molecular analysis of two elongated-spored, lichenicolous fungi (C. epicladonia and C. galaninae) showed that they sit firmly within Cryptodiscus, even though they share several outward features with Nanostictis. Their inclusion broadens the morphological concept of Cryptodiscus and blurs the once-clear distinction between the two genera. Because no species of Nanostictis has yet been sampled for DNA, its monophyly and exact placement in the Stictidaceae remain untested; a thorough molecular study will be needed to decide whether Nanostictis should be maintained or merged with related lineages.[3]

Description

Nanostictis is a lichen-inhabiting (lichenicolous) fungus that produces no visible thallus of its own. Its minute apothecia start out completely embedded in the host lichen. They open through a tiny pore but often remain flush with the surface, so the pale disc stays deeply immersed and never splits away from the surrounding rim when dry. The margin itself is thin, colourless and smooth, lacking any crystalline deposits.[4]

The apothecial wall (exciple) is not clearly layered; it is built from short-celled, tightly glued hyphae or small, prismatic cells that may be hard to distinguish in section. The hymenium (fertile spore-bearing tissue) contains numerous thread-like paraphyses that neither branch extensively nor turn blue in iodine tests. Cylindrical asci have thin lateral walls, a distinct apical cap, show no iodine staining reaction, and usually hold eight ascospores. These spores are colourless, very slender (filiform) and divided by many transverse septa. Asexual reproductive bodies (conidiomata) have not been observed.[4]

Species

Nine species are accepted in Nanostictis;[5] all of them are lichenicolous.[6]

References

  1. ^ 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". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. hdl:10481/76378.
  2. ^ Christiansen, M.S. (1954). "Nanostictis, a new genus of scolecosporous Discomycetes". Botanisk Tidsskrift. 51: 59–65.
  3. ^ Pino-Bodas, R.; Zhurbenko, M.P.; Stenroos, S. (2017). "Phylogenetic placement within Lecanoromycetes of lichenicolous fungi associated with Cladonia and some other genera". Persoonia. 39 (1): 91–117. doi:10.3767/persoonia.2017.39.05. PMC 5832959. PMID 29503472.
  4. ^ a b Cannon, P.; Coppins, B.; Aptroot, A.; Sanderson, A.; Simkin, J. (2024). "Ostropales genera I, including Absconditella, Belonia, Clathroporinopsis, Corticifraga, Cryptodiscus, Cryptolechia, Francisrosea, Gomphillus, Gyalecta, Gyalidea, Gyalideopsis, Jamesiella, Karstenia, Nanostictis, Neopetractis, Pachyphiale, Petractis, Phialopsis, Phlyctis, Ramonia, Sagiolechia, Secoliga, Sphaeropezia, Spirographa, Stictis, Thelopsis, Thrombium and Xerotrema". Revisions of British and Irish Lichens (PDF). Vol. 38. p. 45.Open access icon
  5. ^ "Nanostictis". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  6. ^ Diederich, Paul; Lawrey, James D.; Ertz, Damien (2018). "The 2018 classification and checklist of lichenicolous fungi, with 2000 non-lichenized, obligately lichenicolous taxa". The Bryologist. 121 (3): 340–425. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.3.340.
  7. ^ Zhurbenko, M.P. (2017). "Lichenicolous fungi of the Caucasus: New species, new records and a second synopsis". Opuscula Philolichenum. 16: 267–311 [291]. doi:10.5962/p.386110.
  8. ^ Etayo, J.; Diederich, P. (1996). "Lichenicolous fungi from the Western Pyrenees, France and Spain. III. Species on Lobaria pulmonaria". Bulletin de la Société des Naturalistes Luxembourgeois. 97: 93–118 [102].
  9. ^ a b Etayo, Javier (2017). "Hongos liquenícolas de Ecuador" [Lichenicolous fungi of Ecuador]. Opera Lilloana (in Spanish). 50: 281, 284.
  10. ^ Etayo, J.; Sancho, L.G. (2008). Hongos liquenícolas del sur de Sudamérica, especialmente de Isla Navarino (Chile) [Lichenicolous fungi of southern South America, especially from Navarino Island (Chile)]. Bibliotheca Lichenologica (in Spanish). Vol. 98. Berlin/Stuttgart: J. Cramer. p. 136. ISBN 978-3-443-58077-3.
  11. ^ a b Etayo, J. (2002). Aportación al conocimiento de los hongos liquenícolas de Colombia [Contribution to the knowledge of lichenicolous fungi of Colombia]. Bibliotheca Lichenologica (in Spanish). Vol. 84. pp. 61–62.
  12. ^ Sherwood-Pike, M.A. (1985). "New and unusual ascomycetes from the western United States". Sydowia. 38: 267–277.
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