Porina rhaphidiophora
≡Verrucaria rhaphidiophora Nyl., Bull. Soc. linn. Normandie, sér. 2, 2: 132 (1868).
Description : Thallus epiphloeodal, continuous to very sparingly rimose, medium to dark grey-brown, matt, minutely and irregularly uneven, to 50 µm thick, ecorticate; prothallus not apparent. Photobiont Trentepohlia; cells 7–16 × 6–14 µm. Perithecia semi-immersed to superficial, hemispherical to subglobose, 0.26–0.48 mm diam., greenish black; apex rounded to rather plane; ostiole inconspicuous. Involucrellum dimidiate or extending to exciple base level, 50–80 µm thick, sometimes containing a few algae, K−. Exciple c. 30 µm thick, hyaline to pale-brown. Centrum 0.18–0.25 mm wide. Asci elongate-cylindrical, 92–120 × 9–15 µm. Ascospores elongate-cylindrical, elongate-filiform or subacicular, 9–11(–15)-septate, 41–73 × 2–4 µm; perispore not apparent. Pycnidia not seen.
S: Nelson (Melrose House Nelson City). On bark of exotic conifer (Malcolm & McCarthy 1997: 16), Southland (Edendale Reserve). On scales of matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia) in deep shade. Known also from New Caledonia, E New South Wales,Tasmania and Madagascar (McCarthy 1994b: 511; 2001e: 141; 2003c; 2003d).
Palaeotropical
Illustrations : McCarthy (1994b: 511, fig. 1B; 2001f: 149, fig. 34); Malcolm & Malcolm (2000: 79); Flora of Australia58A (2001: 102, pl. 51).
Porina rhaphidiophora is characterised by: the corticolous habit; dark grey-brown thallus without a prothallus; small, but not minute, black perithecia; and elongate, acicular, multiseptate ascospores.
