Gyalideopsis
Crustose lichens containing a trebouxioid alga; thallus smooth, usually inconspicuous, in a few species verrucose or isidiate; hyphophores often produced, these being stalked structures bearing budding conidia-like structures forming long chains of blocky cells, these sometimes branched; apothecia generally broad and low, translucent when wet, with a thin but persistent, non-algal rim; rim formed of net-forming hyphae loosely bound in gel; hymenium of branching and anastomosing paraphyses (paraphysoids) loosely bound in gel; asci thin walled but moderately thickened at the tip, IKI- in the wall layers, the but contents I+ dark red; spores 2-8 per ascus, colourless, transverse-septate to submuriform, the walls and septae thin, the cells often bulging and with a glassy appearance, surrounded by a gelatinous perispore.
References: Goward 1999; Spribille 2006.
| 1a. | Mature hyphophores black or unpigmented, straight and erect, or somewhat bent at the tip, not fraying, or fraying into erect segments; apothecia 0.2-0.3 mm wide; spores 14-20 × 5-6.5 µ; to be sought in rainforests …[Gyalideopsis epicorticis (A. Funk) Tønsberg & Vězda] |
| 1b. | Mature hyphophores dark grey to black in part, bent at the middle, often with frayed ends that splay like the fingers of a hand; spores various …2 |
| 2a. | Spores lacking any longitudinal septae, 9.5-13.5 × 4.2-5 µ; apothecia 0.2-0.4 mm wide; to be sought …[Gyalideopsis abietina Spribille ined.] |
| 2b. | Spores with at least one longitudinal septum, 12-19 × 4.5-7 µ; apothecia 0.1-0.3 mm wide …Gyalideopsis piceicola |
Gyalideopsis piceicola (Nyl.) Vězda
Thallus grey-green, thin, smooth or minutely granular, sometimes not apparent; apothecia 0.1-0.3 mm wide, deep red-brown, translucent when wet, with a thin but prominent and persistent rim; spores usually 4 per ascus, 12-19 × 4.5-7 µ, with about 5 transverse septae, and 1 longitudinal septum, dividing one or few of the central cells in halves; hyphophores 0.1-0.2 mm high, stout, with a broad base and at first with a slender tip that eventually frays into finger-like segments, the stalk black below and usually paler in the frayed portion, bending shortly below the frays (the whole structure becoming hand-like with a bend at the ‘wrist’), the inner surface of the bend produces a mass of long, acicular, conidia-like asexual spores.
Reactions: All spot tests negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: On conifer twigs in humid forest, especially along creeks and rivers. Lower elevations.
Similar Species: Gyalideopsis alnicola should be sought in the study area. It differs in having apothecia 0.3-0.6 mm wide and spores that often lack longitudinal septae.
Specimens: Goward 92-1122a.
Local Status: Uncommon.