Miltidea

Miltidea is a fungal genus in the family Agyriaceae. It comprises the single species Miltidea ceroplasta, a crustose lichen. Originally proposed in 1898 to encompass a wide array of red-fruited lichens, the genus was later found to be based on a fundamentally flawed concept, and was resurrected in 1984 by Josef Hafellner with a much narrower circumscription limited to just a single species. This species occurs in the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania, New Zealand, and Chile, where it grows primarily on the smooth bark of rainforest trees at lower elevations. The lichen is distinguished by its combination of a thin, pale thallus and small but conspicuous waxy fruiting bodies that range from orange to vivid red. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that Miltidea represents a distinct lineage now placed in the family Agyriaceae.