species family fungi species distributed subtropical tropical locations southeastern united_states collected africa body forms continuous circular crust like patches dead wood readily recognizable prominent red pigment older central region covered red spherical cylindrical moving center zones color distinguished gray green second white finally bright red rim red green colors woodland appearance christmas suggestive common north american christmas red pigment called acid chemicals produces help tolerate growing conditions taxonomy naming classification genus unclear historically placed different genera like association fungus organism case algae initially unknown component vast majority german believed interpreted unusual microscopic structures clamp connections structures associated fungi publication later year specified described genus old presence clamp connections species studied species researchers find clamp connections specimens collected different countries doubt cast possibility discovery acid concentric bodies bodies characteristics restricted international code botanical nomenclature states names fungi adopted sanctioned earlier competing synonyms means priority type material examined berlin destroyed probably second world war drawing publication serves species transferred genus swedish basis similarity ridges presence acid acid red green christmas look common north american christmas specific epithet derived latin words red encircled banded epithet form latin bloody description grows form surface crust body spread flat tightly loosely attached growing surface thick smooth low ridges older central region surface reproductive structures called resemble species relies entirely means reproduce known sexual structures center color zones differentiated mature specimens grayish green second white finally bright red rim distinct fibers whitish fungal hyphae edge lack project growing surface red whitish inner red outer surface defined outer layer packed hyphae loosely arranged layer hyphae zone whitish lower red calcium crystals diameter hyphae crystals walls diameter technically green partner genus normally algae long state divided shorter large contains beta meaning components defined layers distinct zone upper cells single cells dimensions member family discovered growing distribution habitat widely distributed southeastern united_states north border distribution given line passing southern louisiana mississippi alabama georgia northern limit extended southern delaware author later revised opinion northern limit thought north_carolina north_carolina found notable location represents northern limit distribution presence meter tree interspersed dominant tree species island subtropical appearance consistent preferred climate widespread tropical subtropical areas west_indies south_america found north chile argentina africa having collected geographically widely separated mountain regions found altitudes ranging sea level metres colombia typically grows rough bark sheltered shaded habitats moist dense subtropical forests rarely found rocks leaves usa occurs hardwood forests swamps standing water year common oak oak pine vegetation species associated usa chemistry easily recognized bright red pigment pigment isolated species called acid contains compound acid study employed technique determine chemical composition differently colored zones white zone contains calcium chemical substance found growing calcium rich surfaces suggested calcium serves organism survival strategy storage water essential periods drought environments calcium identified grows calcium poor surfaces calcium thought acquired rain bird airborne particles chemicals red colored zone include beta deep red colored pigment acid thought function radiation combination beta established role cellular dna repair following exposure organism damage radiation found situations essential survival lighter colored pink zone located inside red zone contains mixture acid beta calcium red white mixture acid calcium giving rise lighter color elliptical brown colored observed red pink zones acid calcium thought stable calcium function acid brown unclear
Cryptothecia rubrocincta