Lecanorales
(Lichens)
Peltigerales
(Lichens)
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes (Lichen-forming Fungi)
Lecanoromycetes is the largest class of lichenised fungi. It contains many familiar lichens and is one of the most species-rich classes in the fungi kingdom, with more than 14,000 recognised species, of which over 95% are lichenised. These organisms are very abundant in all terrestrial ecosystems. Lichens are an association of a fungus with and algae (the algae may belong to different taxonomic groups) in which the fungus produces a structure that houses the algae and provides it with nutrients, while the algae uses photosynthesis to provide nutrients to the fungus. The fungus and the algae are mutually dependent on each other.
Class: Lecanoromycetes (Lichen-forming Fungi)
Lecanoromycetes is the largest class of lichenised fungi. It contains many familiar lichens and is one of the most species-rich classes in the fungi kingdom, with more than 14,000 recognised species, of which over 95% are lichenised. These organisms are very abundant in all terrestrial ecosystems. Lichens are an association of a fungus with and algae (the algae may belong to different taxonomic groups) in which the fungus produces a structure that houses the algae and provides it with nutrients, while the algae uses photosynthesis to provide nutrients to the fungus. The fungus and the algae are mutually dependent on each other.