Difference between revisions of "Calicioid"

'''calicioid''' (''adj.'') – lichens or non-lichenized fungi characterized by asci that disintegrate early, thus releasing a powdery mass of ascospores on the apothecium surface, i. e., a [[mazaedium]]; frequently, but not always characterized by thinly stalked apothecia shaped like a pin, ''cf.'' [[pin-head lichen]]s. Until recently ''calicioid lichens'' were generally placed into a separate order, the Caliciales, but it is now evident from molecular and ultrastructural data that these lichens are closely related to the Physciaceae. In contrast, predominantly non-lichenized, saprobic or lichenicolous fungi with pin-head ascomata are retained within the Mycocaliciales, an order of ascomycetes with uncertain position. Both the mazaedium as well as the pin-head ascomata of calicioid fungi thus appear to have developed independently.