Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2002. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 1.

Thallus: rather tightly adnate to adnate, ± appressed throughout, foliose, up to 6 cm diam., lobate lobes: short and rounded or slightly elongate, contiguous or becoming imbricate, 1-3 mm broad, ± flat upper surface: olive-brown to yellowish or copper-brown, paler at the periphery, smooth to weakly wrinkled or pitted at the periphery, inward becoming rather strongly rugose-warted or fissured; dull throughout or slightly shiny on the lobe ends lower surface: pale tan (some specimens have scattered areas of lower cortex with a purplish-red pigment which reacts K+ purple), smooth and dull to slightly shiny; moderately to somewhat more densely rhizinate, the rhizines concolorous with the lower surface or darkening Apothecia: common, up to 6.5 mm diam., sessile or short stipitate, concave to irregularly folded inward, the margin entire at first, but soon grossly crenate or lacerate asci: clavate, 8-spored ascospores: ellipsoid, 8-10.5 x 4.5-6 µm Pycnidia: common, immersed conidia: bifusiform, 5.5-8.5 x l-1.5 µm Spot tests: cortex K-, C-, KC-, P-, HNO3+ dark blue-green; medulla K-, C-, KC-, P- Secondary metabolite: unknown fatty acid TE-13. Substrate: rocks World distribution: SW North America Sonoran distribution: Arizona and Chihuahua, in mountainous regions, from 1200 to 2100 m. Notes: This species can only be distinguished from N. ahtii and N. brunella with certainty on the basis of chemistry. All three produce unidentified fatty acids in the medulla, and must therefore be distinguished by TLC analysis and comparison of Rf values as published in the protologue (Esslinger 1977).