TYPE. UNITED STATES. Massachusetts, New Bedford, 1866, H. Willey s.n. (UPS, holotype; C, M, W, US, isotypes).

Description. Lichenized fungus.

Thallus dwarf fruticose, filiform, blackish forming rosettes 2-3 mm wide, consisting of branches of lichenized Stigonema cyanobacterial filaments (i.e., covered by a hyphal sheath of the mycobiont). Ascomata pycnoascocarpia, perithecoid, developing from pycnidia, appearing as swellings on branches, 0.15 mm diam.; hymenium hyaline, 60-100 μm high; hypothecium 10-15 μm, becoming brown with age. Asci obclavate to cylindrical, 35-62 x 7-13 μm, 8-spored; ascospores simple, hyaline, ellipsoid, curved, 9-13 x 3.5-5.5 μm. Conidia cylindrical, somewhat tapered at both ends, 3-4 x 1 μm.

Chemistry. No substances detected; hymenila gel I+ light blue.

Substrate and Habitat. On wet, siliceous rocks on lake and stream shores or dripping rock walls.

Distribution. Eastern North America; in North Carolina found in the Blue Ridge ecoregion.

Literature

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

Henssen, A. (1963) Eine Revision der Flechtenfamilien Lichinaceae und Ephebaceae. Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 18(1): 1-123 (original description).