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

Thallus: tightly adnate to adnate, appressed, foliose, up to 6 cm diam., lobate lobes: and rounded to slightly elongate and sublinear, contiguous to subimbricate, 0.5-3 mm broad, flat to weakly convex upper surface: olive-brown to reddish brown or dark brown, short rather smooth throughout or becoming fissured and/or rugose inward, the central parts sometimes developing scattered upward-arching lobules; dull to somewhat shiny, especially near the lobe-ends lower surface: pale tan to pale brown, occasionally darkening on some lobe ends; ± smooth, dull; moderately to rather sparsely rhizinate, the rhizines concolorous with the lower surface Apothecia: common, up to 5 (-7) mm diam., sessile, concave or flattening to slightly convex, the margin entire to slightly crenate or lacerate asci: clavate, 8-spored ascospores: ellipsoid, 9-10.5 x 4.5-5 µm Pycnidia: common, immersed conidia: bifusiform, 4.5-7 x 1 µm Spot tests: cortex K -, C-, KC-, P-, HNO3 + dark blue-green; medulla K+ yellow or yellow turning red-orange, C-, P+ yellow-orange or orange Secondary metabolites: stictic acid (major), norstictic acid (minor), constictic acid (trace). Substrate: rock World distribution: SW North America Sonoran distribution: Arizona, forested regions from 1000 to 2800 m. Notes: In the American Southwest, five fertile and nonisidiate species of Neofuscelia occur, but this one is easily distinguished from the others by its distinctive medullary chemistry (stictic and norstictic acids) and corresponding medullary spot test reactions. Only N. occidentalis has similar spot tests, although usually either the medulla or the cortex (or both) are distinctly P+ red-orange, a more pronounced reaction than that observed in N. atticoides.