Myxobilimbia
Crustose lichens containing a trebouxioid alga; thallus areolate, granular, verruculose, or subsquamulose; apothecia with a non-algal rim formed of cylindrical hyphae embedded in gel; hymenium formed of mostly straight paraphyses embedded in gel, usually with blue-black crystals scattered throughout; hypothecium colourless or lightly to moderately brown-pigmented; asci clavate, with a tholus that is often higher than wide, IKI+ light blue with a dark blue tube (appearing as a pair of parallel lines running up the length of the tholus); spores colourless, 8 per ascus, non septate, or with 1-3 (‑6) transverse septae.
Notes: See discussion under Bilimbia.
References: Hafellner & Türk 2001.
| 1a. | Spores 0- to 6-septate, 27-41 × 4-5 µ …Myxobilimbia vermiformis |
| 1b. | Spores 0- to 1-septate, up to 25 µ long …2 |
| 2a. | Apothecia glossy, as if polished, medium red-brown; spores almost always 1-septate; apothecial sections with no pigment layers or pigments pale and indistinct …Myxobilimbia pilularis comb. ined. |
| 2b. | Apothecia not or only moderately glossy, colour various; non-septate and 1-septate spores intermixed; apothecial sections mostly with a distinct pigment layer …Myxobilimbia hypnorum comb. ined. |
Myxobilimbia hypnorum (Lib.) Björk comb. ined.
Thallus thin or with thick patches, smooth, warty or granular in part, pale grey or green-gray; apothecia 0.4-1.5 mm wide, matte, dark brown or blackish brown, constricted to the base, with a thin, quickly receding rim; rim interior medium to dark red-brown; hymenium 60-70 µ high, colourless or light to dark red-brown in upper portions; hypothecium medium to dark red-brown; spores simple or 1-septate (rarely 3-septate), elliptical, 10-19 × 4-7 µ.
Reactions: All spot tests negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: On mosses on the ground, logs, or over tree trunks, sometimes spreading onto adjacent bark or wood. Lower elevations.
Similar Species: Bilimbia sabuletorum and Mycobilimbia tetramera may appear similar, but have multi-septate spores.
Specimens: Björk 12401; Goward 94-885, 01-646.
Local Status: Occasional.
Myxobilimbia pilularis (Körb.) Björk comb. ined.
Thallus verruculose or granular, pale olive-gray or whitish green; apothecia 0.4-1 mm wide, constricted to the base, waxy or glossy, light pinkish orange, brownish pink or medium reddish brown, with a thick rim that recedes with maturity, the disc becoming low- to high-convex, sometimes botryoid; rim interior pale yellowish brown; hymenium colourless or pale yellowish brown, 60-70 µ high; hypothecium colourless or pale yellowish brown; spores 11-17 × 3.5-5 µ, almost all 1-septate, rarely some non-septate or 3-septate.
Reactions: All spot tests negative.
Contents: No known lichen substances.
Habitat: On mosses on the ground, logs, or over tree trunks, sometimes spreading onto adjacent bark or wood in lower elevation forest.
Similar Species: Mycobilimbia has paler, waxy apothecia and multi-septate spores. Bilimbia rosea has similarly coloured apothecia, but these are matte and very thin-rimmed.
Specimens: Björk 12194.
Local Status: Uncommon.
Myxobilimbia vermiformis Björk ined.
Thallus thin, verruculose, granular or smooth in part, pale olive-gray; apothecia 0.3-1.2 mm wide, constricted at the base, with a thin, quickly receding rim, matte, light to medium orangish brown,exciple interior pale yellowish brown; hymenium 80-100 µ high, pale yellowish brown throughout; hypothecium pale yellowish brown; spores 27-41 × 4-5 µ, about half non-septate, the others 3- to 6-septate, narrowly ellptical.
Reactions: Spot tests all negative.
Contents: Unknown.
Habitat: On mosses over bark, also spreading onto the bark. Lower elevation forests.
Similar Species: Bilimbia rosea and B. sabuletorum may appear similar, but have wider spores with a warty outer layer.
Specimens: Goward 96-1306.
Local Status: Rare.
Notes: Known only from the study area.