KEY to terricolous lichens - italic

marginal, prominent Cells of lower cortex arranged in vertical rows, Conidia 5-7 µ
long, Squamules 10 mm wide
Catapyrenium rufescens
Thallus squamulose, reddish brown, thick, K-, C-, KC-, P-. Squamules >10 mm wide,
rounded, flattened, smooth, adpressed to the substratum. Edge up-turned, undulate.
Upper cortex paraplectenchymatous. Perithecia frequent, laminal, pyriform, half
immersed, not flattened. Paraphyses absent. Perithecial wall pale throughout. Asci
unitunicate, cylindrical. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid, thin-walled, 8 per
ascus, 15-20(22) x (7) 7.5-9(10) µ. Conidia ellipsoidal. Photobiont chlorococcoid.
Pycnidia marginal, prominent Cells of lower cortex not arranged in vertical rows,
Conidia 3-5 µ long, Squamules without hairs. Rhizohyphae pale. - Note: on vertical
seepages of calcareous rocks, almost always with colonies of cyanobacteria, more
rarely on plant debris, calcareous soil, terricolous or epilithic bryophytes.
39 Squamules (2)3-6 mm wide 40
40 Squamules without hairs. Conidia bacilliform.
Catapyrenium imbecillum
Thallus squamulose, brownish, K-, C-, KC-, P-. Squamules (2)3-6 mm wide, rounded,
flattened, smooth, adpressed to the substratum. Edge up-turned, undulate.
Undersurface black, brown at the periphery. Upper cortex paraplectenchymatous.
Perithecia frequent, laminal, pyriform, half immersed, not flattened. Paraphyses
absent. Perithecial wall pale throughout. Asci unitunicate, cylindrical. Ascospores 1celled,
hyaline, ellipsoid, thin-walled, 8 per ascus, (12)14-18 x 6-8 µ. Conidia
bacilliform. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Pycnidia marginal, prominent Cells of lower
cortex not arranged in vertical rows, Conidia 3-5 µ long, Rhizohyphae pale. - Note:
known from the Austrian Alps, and from several isolated stations in southern Europe,
to be looked for in the Alps.
40 Squamules with very thin hairs, at least at the periphery. Conidia ellipsoidal.
Catapyrenium pilosellum
Thallus squamulose, brownish, thin, K-, C-, KC-, P-. Squamules (2)3-6 mm wide,
rounded, flattened, smooth, adpressed to the substratum. Edge up-turned, undulate.
Upper cortex paraplectenchymatous. Perithecia frequent, laminal, pyriform, half
immersed, not flattened. Paraphyses absent. Perithecial wall pale throughout. Asci
unitunicate, cylindrical. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid, thin-walled, 8 per
ascus, (10)12-17(19) x (5) 5.5-7(7.5) µ. Conidia ellipsoidal. Photobiont chlorococcoid.
Pycnidia marginal, prominent Cells of lower cortex not arranged in vertical rows,
Conidia 3-5 µ long. Rhizohyphae pale. - Note: on calciferous soil rich in humus, often
growing amongst bryophytes, several Italian records require reconfirmation.
41 Apothecia lecanorine, with a thalline margin containing algal cells 42
41 Apothecia non lecanorine, without a thalline margin 44
42 Ascomata dark. Squamules < 2 mm diam.
Phaeorrhiza nimbosa
Thallus squamulose, from brownish to pale ochraceous yellowish, sometimes fainly
pruinose, thick, K-, C-, KC-, P-. Squamules rounded, flattened, smooth, contiguous,
adpressed to the substratum, non imbricate. Undersurface dark, with a dense mat of
rhizohyphae. Upper cortex paraplectenchymatous. Apothecia frequent, lecanorine,
sessile, 1.2 mm diam. Surface black, sometimes faintly pruinose. Margin thin.
Paraphyses distinctly thickened above. Asci clavate. Ascospores 2-celled, not hyaline,
ellipsoid, thick-walled, 8 per ascus, 18-22 x 8-10 µ. Pycnidia dark, immersed. Conidia
bacilliform. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Rhizohyphae dark. - Note: on naked earth,
dead mosses and plant debris on more or less calciferous ground, often in windexposed
situations, an arctic-alpine species, common in the Alps.
42 Ascomata neither bright nor dark-coloured. Squamules >2 mm diam. 43
43 Medulla P-. Specimens with a P- medulla belong to v. pseudocrassa (Mattick)
D.Hawksw.
Squamarina cartilaginea
25