Flora of New Zealand Series

Parasitic, parasymbiontic or possibly developing an autonomous thallus. Apothecia sessile to short-stalked, epruinose. Capitulum spherical to obovoid. Excipulum constricted at edge. Mazaedium present. Asci cylindrical, well-stalked, disintegrating at a rather late stage, ascospores in most species simple, spherical to ellipsoid, in one species 1-septate and ellipsoid-fusiform, dark brown, provided with a ± distinct gelatinous coat, most easily seen in semi-mature spores, mature spores smooth or with a ± distinct ornamentation that in some species is very distinctive.

Sphinctrina is a cosmopolitan, temperate genus of c. 20 described species included in the family Caliciaceae. A review of European species [Löfgren and Tibell Lichenologist 11: 109-137 (1979)] contains the most detailed information on the genus. One species is recorded from New Zealand.