TYPE. BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro, Portella s.n. (G G-G-210298/1, holotype).

Description. Life form: lichenized fungus.

Thallus crustose, epiphloeodal, smooth and continuous, greenish mineral gray, 6-12 cm broad; vegetative diaspores absent. Potobiont trentepohlioid alga. Ascomata pore-like apothecia, solitary, widely dispersed, in thalline warts, 2-2.5 mm diam., heavily carbonized with a thick columella, the pore round, 0.15-0.3 mm diam., Asci 1-2-spored; ascospores densely muriform, 100-275 x 30-45 μm.

Chemistry. “Praestams” unknown.

Substrate and Habitat. Corticolous hardwood trees.

Distribution. Neotropical to southeastern North America along Gulf and Atlantic coasts; in North Carolina found in Coastal Plain ecoregion.

Literature

Hale, M.E., Jr (1978) A revision of the lichen family Thelotremataceae in Panama. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 38: 1-60.

Müller, J. (1895) Thelotremeae et Graphideae novae quas praesertim ex hb. Reg. Kewensi exponit. Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany 30: 451-463 (original description as Thelotrema praestans).