The Caliciaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. Although the family has had its classification changed several times throughout its taxonomic history, the use of modern molecular phylogenetic methods have helped to establish its current placement in the order Caliciales. Caliciaceae contains 39 genera and about 670 species. The largest genus is Buellia, with around 300 species; there are more than a dozen genera that contain only a single species.
Caliciaceae
The lichen Calicium viride (then called Calicium hyperellum) as it appeared in Smith and Sowerby's English Botany, Vol. 10 (1843).
Photograph of brown, 1-septate (2-celled) spores from Buellia disciformis taken through a compound microscope at 1000X magnification. The spores measure about 27 x 11 μm.
Illustration depicting typical habitat and some morphological features of a Calicium lichen found on the underside of a ponderosa pine branch.
Buellia is a genus of mostly lichen-forming fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The fungi are usually part of a crustose lichen. In this case, the lichen species is given the same name as the fungus. But members may also grow as parasites on lichens (lichenicolous). The algae in the lichen is always a member of the genus Trebouxia.
Buellia
Buellia disciformis
Buellia stillingiana
Photograph of a cross section of an apothecium from B. disciformis taken through a compound microscope (x400), showing numerous brown, 1-septate spores per ascus.
