Celothelium

Celothelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Celotheliaceae. These lichens typically have a thin, crust-like thallus that often grows beneath the surface of tree bark or rocks in tropical rainforests and coastal areas. Celothelium species are characterised by small, black, shiny reproductive structures (perithecia), and thread-like spores. The genus has had an uncertain taxonomic history since its original description in 1860, but recent genetic studies have placed it in its own distinct group within the fungal class Eurotiomycetes. Celothelium species have been found in various parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas.