Aspilidea

Aspilidea is a genus of rock-dwelling crustose lichens in the family Megasporaceae (order Pertusariales). It was introduced for the species Aspilidea myrinii, but a five-locus phylogenetic study recovered two distinct taxa in the genus and treated Aspilidea as an early-diverging lineage within Megasporaceae. In the same study, all North American records previously attributed to A. myrinii were found to be misidentifications, with many representing a second species, Aspilidea subadunans.

==Taxonomy== The genus was introduced by Josef Hafellner for A. myrinii in 2001. In a five-locus phylogenetic study of Megasporaceae, Wheeler and colleagues (2024) recovered Aspilidea as an early-diverging lineage within that family (near the boundary with Ochrolechiaceae) and treated it as part of Megasporaceae, while noting that its placement is less clear-cut than that of several other genera and may be revisited as sampling improves. Earlier molecular work excluded Aspilidea from Megasporaceae, while noting a close relationship. Wheeler and colleagues (2024) recovered Aspilidea as an early-diverging lineage within Megasporaceae with high support and included it in the family, while noting that its placement may change as sampling improves.