Fungalpedia – Note 2675, Taitaia
Taitaia Suija, Kaasal., Kirika & Rikkinen.
Citation when using this data: Meng QF et al. – Fungalpedia.
Index Fungorum, Faceoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.
Classification: Gomphillaceae, Graphidales, Ostropomycetidae, Lecanoromycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi.
The monotypic genus Taitaia was introduced by Suija et al. (2018b) to accommodate the lichenicolous fungus T. aurea, which grows on the thalli of the epiphytic tripartite cyanolichen Crocodia cf. clathrate. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this genus is closely related to Gyalidea fritzei, followed by Corticifraga peltigerae, supporting its placement within Gomphillaceae (Ostropales) (Suija et al. 2018b). This genus was placed within Gomphillaceae (Graphidales) by Lebreton et al. (2025).
Taitaia is characterized by aggregated, apothecioid ascomata with yellow margins and salmon-red discs that develop from a single base. The hymenium is hyaline, lacks of hymenial gel, and is filled with irregular, septate paraphyses. The asci are unitunicate and clavate, lacking a widened apex, and contain eight biseriate spores. The ascospores are two-celled, hyaline, fusiform, slightly or not constricted at the septum, symmetrical or occasionally asymmetrical, and surrounded by a perispore (Suija et al. 2018b).
Type species: Taitaia aurea Suija, Kaasalainen & Rikkinen, on Crocodia cf. clathrate (Suija et al. 2018b).
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Taitaia.
Figure 1 – Taitaia aurea redrawn from Suija et al. (2018b). a Section of ascomata. b Paraphyses and asci. c Ascus. d Ascospores. Scale bars: a = 20 μm, b = 10 μm, c, d = 5 μm.
References
Entry by
Meng QF, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand and School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou 563000, China.
Published online 8 July 2026