Catinaria
Crustose lichens containing a trebouxioid alga; thallus inconspicuous, thin and smooth or immersed; apothecia black or brown, with a non-algal rim formed of cylindrical hyphae arrayed fan-like as seen in cross section, the outermost parts darkly pigmented; hymenium formed of straight, gel-embedded paraphyses that mostly branch and anastomose in upper portions, often with a darkly pigmented sheath at the tip; hypothecium colourless or lightly pigmented; asci (of Catinaria sensu stricto), with a IKI+ dark blue tholus that is more than 2 × high as wide in at least part of its development; spores 8-32 per ascus, always with a single transverse septum, the walls thick enough to see a gap between the inner and outer surfaces.
Note: Catinaria neuschildii occurs in northeastern BC and northern Alberta, and should be sought in the study area. It differs from C. lignicola in having medium to dark brown apothecia with a greasy or dull lustre, not glossy.
References: Hafellner & Ryan 2004; Spribille 2006.
| 1a. | Apothecia black or very dark brown, with a glossy rim, appearing as if polished; spores 12-16 per ascus, 7-12 × 4-7 µ; on snags in subalpine forest, to be sought …[Catinaria lignicola Björk ined.] |
| 1b. | Apothecia dark brown, matte or greasy, not glossy; spores 8 per ascus, 10-15 × 5-7 µ; on nutrient-rich bark and wood. Lower elevations …Catinaria atropurpurea |
Catinaria atropurpurea (Schaerer) Vezda & Poelt
Thallus pale to dark greenish grey-brown, thin or in part warty, inconspicuous and often intermixed with other crust lichens; apothecia 0.2-0.6 mm wide, reddish brown to purplish black, somewhat glossy, the rim prominent and persistent or fading with overmaturity, the disc flat to low-convex; hymenium 60-75 µ high; paraphyses 0.7-1 µ thick at midpoint, swollen to 2.5 µ at the tip, but often with an apical dark brown pigment hood to 4 µ wide; spores with a single crosswall, the outer walls constricted at the crosswall, the walls 1-1.5 µ thick, 9-15 × 5-7 µ.
Reactions: All spot tests negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: Mostly on nutrient rich bark, less often on logs and polypores and on neutral bark, lower to middle elevations.
Similar Species: Buellia punctata can appear somewhat similar, but the apothecia of that species are jet black, lacking the reddish to purplish tones, and the spores are darkly pigmented.
Specimens: Björk 12321, 14992.
Local Status: Common.