TYPE. On bark of Cinchonae oblongiformiae [Ladenbergia oblongifolia] (Sprengel 1820). BRAZIL. Sao Paulo, Serra do Mar. Serra de Paranapiacaba; etwa 60 km südwestlich von São Paulo, oberhalb von Juquitiba. In einem hellen, feuchten Regenwald am Rio Juquiá. 700 m. 13.V.1978, K. Kalb & G. Plöbst s.n. [GZU, neotype designated by Kalb 1997; M M-0163851, isoneotype].

Description. Lichenized fungus.

Thallus crustose, continuous, pale greenish-gray to white, smooth to verrucose. Ascomata lecanorine apothecia, common, sessile, basally constricted, 0.5-1.4 mm diam.; disk flat, orange to olive, often with yellow pruina; margin prominent, bright orange. Exciple not carbonized; hymenium hyaline, not inspersed, 120-150 µm; hypothecium hyaline to slightly brownish; paraphyses few-branched, tips slightly enlarges and encrusted with anthraquinone crystals. Asci 85-110 x 30-45 µm, single-spored.  Ascospores hyaline, muriform, ellipsoid to oblong, 65-105 x 22-40 µm. Pycnidia globose to ovate, 50-100 µm diam.; conidiophores consisting of branched rows of cells, with terminal conidiogenous cells; conidia bacilliform to subfusiform, 3-4 x 1 µm.

Chemistry. Thallus K+ yellow, KC-, C-, PD-; apothecia K+ magenta; exciple & epithecium K+ magenta. TLC: thalline substances atronorin, zeorin; apothecial substances: unidentified anthraquinones.

Substrate and Habitat. Corticolous on hardwoods, rarely on lignicolous or saxicolous.

Distribution. Pantropical, extending to north temperate (eastern North America, Japan) and south temperate (Australia, South Africa, Chile); in North Carolina found throughout.

Notes. Brigantiaea leucoxantha has been proposed for IUCN assessment as Least Concern.

Literature

Brodo, I.M., S. Duran Sharnoff & S. Sharnoff. (2001) Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven & London. 795 pp.

Hafellner, J. (1997) A world monograph of Brigantiaea (lichenized Ascomycotina, Lecanorales). Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 32(1): 35-74.

Sprengel, C.P.J. (1820) Plantarum cryptogamicarum tropicarum pugillus. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlinger. Ser. 3, 8: 46-53 (original description as Lecidea leucoxantha).