Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2007. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3.
Thallus: crustose, indeterminate, without lobes, continuous, with radiating hyphae, well-fastened to the substrate, forming an interconnected matrix less than 1 mm thick of prosoplectenchyma 4-5 µm in diam with thin walls and regular septation, with inter-hyphal space lacking any evidence of free-living algae, other fungi or bacteria being present upper surface: usnic acid-derived green soredia: irregularly-shaped subcorticate granules up to 50 µm with multiple radiating hyphae medulla: lacking hypothallus: evident in some specimens as whitish algal-free layer resembling hypothallus of L. alpina lower surface: lacking but substrate staining evident Spot tests: K+ yellow or K-; KC+ yellow or KC-, P- Secondary metabolites: atranorin (major or minor), usnic acid (major), zeorin (minor), roccellic and/or angardianic acid (minor). Substrate and distribution: Lepraria texta grows on sandstone, volcanic rock, and granite on north-facing slopes, often in humid microhabitats near seasonal creeks or perennial streams and rivers; rarely covering other lichens World and Sonoran distribution: southern California under 710 meters Notes: In the development of the thalli of Lepraria texta single cells of green algae are initially encased in hyaline hypal sheaths attached to a matrix of branched and anastomosing hyaline prosoplectenchyma. Eventually these individual lichenized algae develop into subcorticate soredia with many radiating hyphae and the over-all thallus looks more granular. The qualitative chemistry was invariant in all specimens of L. texta examined by HPLC but the spot tests were inconsistent, probably due to differences in concentration of the various components. The greenish color was consistent. Due to the morphology of interconnected prosoplectenchyma which forms the thallus, some specimens may appear lobed at first sight like some depauperate specimens of L. lobificans. Lepraria ecorticata (J. R. Laundon) Kukwa has a similar chemistry, but differs in texture, having a granular thallus with somewhat separated soredia, similar to L. caesiella and L. elobata. Lepraria texta differs significantly from L. coriensis (Hue) Sipman and L. usnica Sipman in containing the fatty acids roccellic and/or angardianic acids, the constant occurrence of atranorin, as well as by lacking lobes and a well-delimited margin, and in thallus morphology (Sipman 2004; Elix 2006). The etymology of the specific name refers to the thallus 'woven' of branched and anastomosing prosoplectenchyma.