Teloschistes

Teloschistes
Teloschistes flavicans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Teloschistes
Norman (1853)
Type species
Teloschistes flavicans
(Sw.) Norman (1853)
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Borrera Ach. (1809)
  • Tenorea Tornab. (1848)
  • Theloschistes Th.Fr. (1861)
  • Teloschistomyces Cif. & E.A.Thomas (1953)

Teloschistes is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae, of which it is the namesake. Species of Teloschistes are among the most visually striking lichens, typically forming small, bushy, much-branched growths in vivid shades of yellow to orange, colours produced by anthraquinone pigments, particularly parietin. The genus has a worldwide distribution, with species occurring on twigs, bark, and rock surfaces in open, well-lit habitats ranging from coastal scrub and semi-arid shrublands to alpine zones.