Hispidopannaria

Hispidopannaria is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Pannariaceae. It comprises two species, both found exclusively in southern South America. The genus is characterised by its large, leafy structures covered with stiff, bristle-like hairs, giving the lichen a fuzzy appearance. These lichens form symbiotic relationships with both green algae and cyanobacteria, allowing them to photosynthesise. Hispidopannaria was established as a distinct genus in 2020, based on DNA analysis that showed it to be genetically distinct from the closely related genus Pannaria. The two known species inhabit different ecological niches: H. hispidula is found in temperate rainforests across Chile and Argentina, primarily growing on tree bark, while H. dasyclada is endemic to Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile, where it grows on rocks and on soil....read more on Wikipedia.