Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2002. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 1.
Thallus: squamulose to subfoliose, sometimes peltate, lobate lobes: with a clearly visible rim along the margins giving it an ear-like shape, 0.75-1.5 mm wide and up to 2.5 mm long upper surface: olive brown, sometimes grayish, not sorediate upper cortex: in some parts poorly developed (0-5 µm thick), composed of globose hyphal cells (2.5-5 µm in diam.); epinecral layer: sometimes developed (up to 5 µm thick) medulla: 50-75 (-250) µm thick, composed of loosely interwoven with numerous air spaces, sometimes prosoplectenchymatous hyphae (2.5 µm thick) lower cortex: well developed, 50-60 (-75) µm thick, paraplectenchymatous with globose hyphal cells (7.5-10 µm diam.) lower surface: paler than the upper surface, attached by an umbilicus Apothecia: rare, laminal, adnate, lecanorine, up to 3 per squamule; disc: red, up to 0.5 mm in diam.; epihymenium: reddish brown, K-; hymenium: I+ blue but turning wine-red and constantly blue after pretreatment with K asci: clavate, I+ blue but turning wine-red and constantly blue after pretreatment with K, >100-spored ascospores: globose, 3-4 (-5) x 3-4 µm Pycnidia: immersed, flask-shaped with a single chamber, conidiophores simple conidia: ellipsoid, 2.5 x 1 µm Spot tests: all negative Secondary metabolites: none detected. Substrate and ecology: so far only known from acidic rocks in deserts and other open, arid habitats World distribution: Venezuela, Guyana and Mexico Sonoran distribution: Baja California Sur.