Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2007. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3.

Life habit: lichenized Thallus: subfruticose, elongate lobed, with elongated lobes, 0.5-1.5 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide; prothallus: absent surface: orange, smooth, without asexual propagules cortex: adglutinate hyphae, 20-125 µm thick, granules absent; medulla dense, without granules Apothecia: 0.5-1 mm, lecanorine disc: orange, flat, epruinose margin: persistent, flush; thalline margin present, concolorous with thallus; proper margin visible, concolorous with disc parathecium: consisting of radiating hyphae; exciple below hypothecium amorphous epihymenium: golden, K+ red, H-, 10%N-, cN-, C- hymenium: hyaline, 70-80 µm tall; tip cells not swollen, not branched; subhymenium hyaline asci: cylindrical, 8--spored ascospores: hyaline, 2 locules, ellipsoid, 10-14 x 5-5.5 µm, isthmus 1.5-3 µm, spore end wall thin Pycnidia: not observed Spot tests: apothecial margin K+ red, H-, 10% N-, cN-, C-; thallus K+ red, H-, 10%N-, cN-, C-; medulla IKI- Secondary metabolites: unidentified anthraquinones. Substrate and ecology: on non-calcareous rocks above the intertidal World distribution: northern Mexico Sonoran distribution: coastal areas of Baja California. Notes: Caloplaca thamnodes is a subfruticose species with thick, terete, dark orange lobes. Caloplaca coralloides has finer lobes that are knobby. Caloplaca thamnodes is much less common than C. coralloides.