Placomaronea

Placomaronea is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Candelariaceae. These lichens are primarily found in the high mountains of South America, particularly in the Andes, where they grow on rocks and soil in harsh, exposed conditions. Most species form bright yellow, circular patches that can range from flat crusts to more complex, three-dimensional structures. The genus is distinguished from similar yellow lichens by its distinctive cellular structure, which includes specialised pigment-containing caps on the surface cells. Recent studies have added two new species from Peru, bringing the total number of known species to eight.