Flora of New Zealand Series

Thallus loosely felted, byssoid, homoiomerous, of a vegetative mycelium surrounding cells of photobiont, either adnate or forming protuberant masses of various shapes, corticolous. Photobiont green, species of Trentepohlia or Physolinum. Apothecia on short stipes or sessile, round, lecideine, pale to bright yellow or pinkish. Ascospores simple or 1-septate, fusiform to oblong or bacillar, colourless. Pycnidia sessile or short stipitate, globose. Conidia simple, fusiform.

Coenogonium is a tropical and subtropical genus included in the family Gyalectaceae. Of the 15 species described, one is known from New Zealand although the genus is poorly collected and understood here. It is not possible to identify specimens of Coenogonium with accuracy in the absence of apothecia. Useful discussions of the genus are found in Santesson [ Symb. bot. upsal. 12: 403-410 (1952)], and Uyenco [ Bryologist 66: 217-224 (1963)].