Trypethelium Spreng.
Thallus crustose. Photobiont green, Trentepohlia. Ascocarps in the form of perithecia, embedded in a pseudostroma. Interthecial hyphae branched and anastomosing forming a loose and rather irregular reticulum. Asci cylindrical to clavate. Ascospores colourless, large, transversely septate, lumina oval, angular or cross-shaped in optical section, elongate.
Trypethelium is a mainly tropical genus of c. 100 species included in the family Trypetheliaceae. Useful information on the genus is given by Harris [ Mich. Bot. 12: 3-68 (1973)]. In earlier accounts several species of Trypethelium were described from New Zealand but are now included in Melanotheca and Parmentaria. One species is recorded here, but the genus is much in need of collection and study in New Zealand.
