Kingdom Fungi Class Lecanoromycetes Order incertae sedis Rank Genus | Division Ascomycota Subclass Lecanoromycetidae Family Coniocybaceae | |
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Similar Calicium, Cyphelium, Arthonia, Bacidia, Candelariella | ||
Chaenotheca is a genus of lichenized fungi within the family Coniocybaceae. The sexual reproduction structures are a mass of loose ascospores that are enclosed by a cup shaped exciple sitting on top of a tiny stalk, having the appearance of a dressmaker's pin (called a mazaedium), hence the common name pin lichen. Genus members are also commonly called needle lichens.
References
Chaenotheca Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA