# Candelariella

Candelariella is a genus of bright yellow, ocher, or greenish yellow crustose or squamulose lichens in the family Candelariaceae. Members of the genus are commonly called eggyolk lichens, goldspeck lichens, or yolk lichens. The genus was circumscribed in 1894 by Swiss lichenologist Johannes Müller Argoviensis, with Candelariella vitellina assigned as the type species.

## Characteristics

The key feature of Candelariella species are the distinct yellow apothecia. Although all species are very small, even the smallest can be identified by the lemon-yellow to orange-yellow discs. Most species have a yellow thallus, although Candelariella antennaria is one example with a grey thallus. Some species are pycnidiate. This genus will generally have all spot tests emerge as negative, although K tests may have an orange or reddish colour on some species' apothecia.
Spore count between species varies from 8 to 32 simply or thinly septate spores. Spores often hold one to two oil drops.

## Habitat and distribution

Candelariella species are found across the globe, although most commonly described in North America, Asia, and Australia. Species can be found on calcareous and non-calcareous rock, soil, tree bark, mosses, and other lichens. While some species may grow only on rock, and others only on trees, the more generalist species can be found in a variety of locations.

## Species interactions

As of 2016, 16 lichenicolous fungi have been documented parasitising species of the genus Candellariella. These are: Tremella candelariellae, Polysporina subfuscescens, Sarcogyne sphaeospora, Arthonia almquistii, Caloplaca grimmiae, Carbonea vitellinaria, Trichonectria furcatosetosa, Lichenochora arctica, Sarcopyrenia cylindrospora, Zwackhiomyces lecanorae, Phoma candelariellae, Henfellra muriformis, Ascochyta candelariellicola, Taeniolella delicata, Intralichen christiansenii, and Intralichen lichenicola.

## Species

* Candelariella aggregata M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella ahtii Yakovchenko (2024)
* Candelariella antennaria Räsänen (1939)
* Candelariella arctica (Körb.) R.Sant. (1966)
* Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr. (1928)
* Candelariella australiensis P.M.McCarthy & Elix (2017) – Australia
* Candelariella biatorina M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella blastidiata Yakovch. (2017)
* Candelariella boikoi Khodos. & S.Y.Kondr. (2004)
* Candelariella boleana Etayo, Palice & T.Sprib. (2009) – Europe
* Candelariella borealis M.Westb. (2007) – North America
* Candelariella californica M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella clarkiae E.Tripp & Lendemer (2015)
* Candelariella commutata Otte & M.Westb. (2013)
* Candelariella complanata M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella coralliza (Nyl.) H.Magn. (1935)
* Candelariella corallizoides M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella corviniscalensis C.A.Morse & M.Westb. (2011)
* Candelariella deppeanae M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella efflorescens R.C.Harris & W.R.Buck (1978)
* Candelariella flavosorediata Kalb & Aptroot (2021) – Réunion
* Candelariella flavovirella (Nyl.) Lettau (1912)
* Candelariella granuliformis M.Westb. (2011)
* Candelariella hakulinenii S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös & Hur (2017)
* Candelariella immarginata M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella lichenicola M.Westb. (2007)
* Candelariella makarevichiae S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös & Hur (2018)
* Candelariella medians (Nyl.) A.L.Sm. (1918)
* Candelariella reflexa (Nyl.) Lettau (1912)
* Candelariella rosulans (Müll.Arg.) Zahlbr. (1928)
* Candelariella rubrisoli D.Liu & Hur (2019)
* Candelariella ruzgarii Halıcı, A.M.Kahraman & Güllü (2022)
* Candelariella superdistans (Nyl.) Malme (1911)
* Candelariella vainioana Hakul. (1954)
* Candelariella vitellina (Hoffm.) Müll.Arg. (1894)
* Candelariella xanthostigma (Pers. ex Ach.) Lettau (1912)
* Candelariella xanthostigmoides (Müll.Arg.) R.W.Rogers (1982)