Bryonora
Crustose, squamulose or microfruticose lichens containing a trebouxioid alga; apothecia reddish brown or black, often large and slightly undulating, with a gelatinous rim that resembles the disc in colour and texture, but which contains algae, the rim and disc both rather translucent when wet; exciple of branched and anastomosed hyphae embedded in thick gel; hymenium of gel-embedded, straight, mostly unbranched paraphyses having thickened apices; hypothecium colourless, with an algal layer below; asci with an IKI+ blue outer surface and a thickened, IKI+ blue tholus; spores 8 per ascus, non-septate or with 1-6 septae, thick-walled.
References: Purvis et al. 1992; Foucard 2001; Galloway 2007.
| 1a. | Apothecia 0.5-1.8 (‑3) mm wide, with a darker, persistent rim; spores 9-19 × 4-6.5 µ …Bryonora pruinosa |
| 1b. | Apothecia 0.3-0.6 mm wide, with a paler, receding rim; spores 9-12 × 4.5-6 µ …Bryonora minor ined. |
Bryonora minor Björk ined.
Thallus immersed, with abundant greyish brown goniocysts at the surface; apothecia medium to dark brown, with a light dusting of grey pruina, 0.3-0.6 mm wide, with a paler, glossy rim that is evident when young, but quickly recedes, the disc low-convex at maturity, not or scarcely undulating; hymenium 35-40 µ high; exciple below the hypothecium containing algae; spores 9-12 × 4.5-6 µ, simple.
Reactions: Spot tests all negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: On conifer wood in swamps. Lower elevations.
Similar Species: Lecidea turgidula is similarly coloured and has greyish pruina, but obviously lacks algae in the apothecial rim.
Specimens: Björk 17853, 17854.
Local Status: Rare.
Notes: Known only from the study area.
[Bryonora pruinosa (Th. Fr.) Holt.-Hartw.]
Thallus of grey-olive or brown areoles or smooth, occasionally immersed; apothecia 0.5-1.8 (‑3) mm wide, the rim thin but persistent, containing algae, resembling the disc in colour and texture; disc darkish brown, somewhat translucent, flat to undulating, usually with a thin layer of grey pruina; exciple below the hypothecium containing algae; spores 9-19 × 4-6.5 µ, simple or 1-septate.
Reactions: Spot tests all negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: Usually over mosses and detritus, but occasionally growing at the base of conifers in dry forests.
Similar Species: Not likely confused with any other species, owing to the brown apothecia covered in a thin layer of pruina, as well as the algal rim more closely resembling the disc than the thallus.
Specimens: Björk 12312; Goward 78-702b, 79-1042.
Local Status: Uncommon as a terricole, to be expected as an epiphyte.