Bryonorae castaneae similis sed apotheciis saturate atrobrunneis, thallo granulato et acidum perlatonicum (non norsticticum) continenti.
Typus: Falkland Islands, East Falkland, Stanley, headwaters of Mullet Creek Stream, UTM 21F VC 3270 [51°709500'S, –57°980333'W], 200 ft [61 m], mosaic of Empetrum-heath & peat bogs, 30 January 1968, H. A. Imshaug (41439) & R. C. Harris (MSC- 0108533—holotypus; BCRU, AAS—isotypi).
Description
Thallus effuse, widespreading to 5–10 cm, on soil; made up of flattish, pale brown to greyish areoles 0.2–0.3 mm across that soon break down into esorediose granules 0._03– 0.05 mm across. Photobiont chlorococcoid, cells (5–)8–12(–15) mm diam.
Apothecia flat to slightly convex, lecideine, 0_3–0_4 mm diam., disc dark to reddish brown (especially when wet), proper margin 0_05 mm wide, persistent, darker than the disc and slightly raised. In section:proper exciple brown, composed of randomly radiating hyphae, 5–6 mm wide. Hymenium 70–80 mm high, epihymenial zone 10 mm high, brown (K+ greenish brown, N+ reddish brown); paraphyses sparingly branched and anastomosing, septate, 2 mm wide, gradually widening to 3–4 mm at the apex, the upper 10 mm with pale brown pigment and a dark brown cap. Hypothecium composed of randomly arranged, brown pigmented hyphae (K+ greenish brown, N+ reddish brown), 4–5 mm wide; periclinally layered and narrower (2 mm wide) towards exciple. Asci Lecanora-type, 45–50 _ 12–15 mm, cylindrical, becoming sub-clavate; ascospores simple (rarely 1-septate), hyaline, ellipsoid to somewhat fusiform, 12–15(–16) × 5.5– 6.5 mm.
Conidiomata not observed.
Chemistry. C--, K--, Pd--; perlatolic acid by TLC.