Sporopodium

Sporopodium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Ectolechiaceae. Most Sporopodium species grow on living leaves (they are foliicolous) in tropical forests worldwide, though some also occur on twigs or bark. The genus is known for producing campylidia, small hood-like outgrowths that produce conidia (asexual spores) and help the lichen disperse to new surfaces. Species in the genus produce a wide variety of chemical compounds, including yellow and orange pigments that can help identify individual species. The genus was established in 1851 with the description of a first species from tropical leaves collected in French Guiana.