Lesson plan

Gymnoderma

Gymnoderma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Cladoniaceae. Originally established in 1860 by the Finnish lichenologist William Nylander, this small genus is characterised by forming mats of small, yellow-green scales dotted with spherical brown fruiting bodies. The genus is distinguished from related lichens by a unique microscopic feature: its spore-containing structures (asci) turn deep blue when stained with iodine, which is uncommon among members of the Cladoniaceae.

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Article summary

Gymnoderma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Cladoniaceae. Originally established in 1860 by the Finnish lichenologist William Nylander, this small genus is characterised by forming mats of small, yellow-green scales dotted with spherical brown fruiting bodies. The genus is distinguished from related lichens by a unique microscopic feature: its spore-containing structures (asci) turn deep blue when stained with iodine, which is uncommon among members of the Cladoniaceae.

Key claims

  1. date of establishment: 1860 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1860". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1322640578

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.