Ameliella
Introduction '''''Ameliella''''' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Lecanoraceae. Described in 2008, the genus contains two species, ''A. andreaeicola'' and ''A. grisea'', that were collected from high elevations in the Scottish Highlands. The two species have also been found in single instances in British Columbia and Northern Norway. The generic name is derived from the Greek , meaning "neglected" or "overlooked"; it was originally intended to be ''Amelia'', which is also the first name of the daughter of one of the authors, but this name had previously been used for another genus and was therefore ineligible for use according to the rules of mycological nomenclature. ''Ameliella'' appears to have some similarity with the lichen genus ''Miriquidica''.The genus name of ''Ameliella'' is in honour of Amelia Rogocka Fryday (b.1993).The genus was circumscribed by Alan M. Fryday and Brian John Coppins in Lichenologist Vol.40 on page 388 in 2008.
Description In the genus ''Ameliella'', the lichen thalli are small, grey-brown in color, and covered with warts or projections that resemble warts. The thalli form patches that are typically  in diameter. There are usually copious apothecia (sexual reproductive structures) that cover much of the thallus.The spores are translucent (hyaline), ranging in shape from narrowly ellipsoid to spindle-shaped to oblong to ellipsoid. The spore dimensions are 10–24 by 5–7 μm; the surface structure is simple, without a thick outer coat (epispore), or ornamentation.
Distribution Based on the collection sites of the two known species, ''Ameliella'' is restricted to locations near oceans. Other than the Scottish Highlands, ''A. andreaeicola'' is known only from single collections in British Columbia and Norway, while ''A. grisea'' has only been collected once in Norway. The Norway collection location (Skibotn area in eastern Troms County, central Northern Norway) is known for a rich lichen species diversity, considered unusual for such northern latitudes (68–69°N).
References