The Teloschistaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi with a cosmopolitan distribution, mostly in temperate regions. Most either live on rock or on bark, and many are orange to yellow from anthraquinone which protects them from ultraviolet light, enabling expansion into arid and sunny ecosystems. They have a thallus that is leafy, bushy, or crusty, and partner with photosynthetic Trebouxia algae. A 2013 revision recognised three subfamilies and created or resurrected 31 more genera. Since then, many new genera have been added and DNA studies are giving insights into relationships within this family's more than 800 species and around 120 genera. It remains underexplored in vast regions like South America and China. Several rock-dwelling species are known to damage marble surfaces, and others are used in some traditional medicines. One member, Rusavskia elegans, is used in research as a model organism to investigate resilience against the harsh conditions of outer space.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teloschistaceae

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1903:

A blockade against Venezuela (depicted), caused by President Cipriano Castro's refusal to pay foreign debts, is lifted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_crisis_of_1902%E2%80%931903

1942:

World War II: U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forcible relocation of over 112,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_9066

1948:

The Southeast Asian Youth Conference, which is believed to have inspired armed communist rebellions in different Asian countries, opened in Calcutta, India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conference_of_Youth_and_Students_of_Southeast_Asia_Fighting_for_Freedom_and_Independence

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

cater-cousin: 1. A person who, while not being a blood relation, is regarded as close enough to be called a cousin; a (very) close or good friend; a bosom friend. 2. (figurative) A thing which is closely associated with or related to another thing. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cater-cousin

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Then the rainstorm came over me And I felt my spirit break I had lost all of my belief, you see And realized my mistake But time threw a prayer to me And all around me became still I need love, love's divine Please forgive me, now I see that I've been blind Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name.   --Seal https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Seal_%28musician%29