Koerberiaceae

Steinera, circumscribed by Alexander Zahlbruckner in 1906, was previously classified in family Koerberiaceae, but the genus and many of its species were transferred to the family Arctomiaceae in 2017, and a new genus Henssenia was created to contain the remaining species.

Description

Members of the Koerberiaceae have thalli that are squamulose (scaley) to placodioid, and have deep grooves on the upper surface that radiate outward from the centre of the thallus. The photobiont partner is a cyanobacteria, either from genus Nostoc or from the family Scytonemataceae; they are bundled together in rows under the upper cortex. Species have cylindrical apothecia that are more-or-less lecanorine in form. Ascospores number eight per ascus, are ellipsoid to long and needle-shaped (acicular), and are variably septate.