Sphaerophorus melanocarpus (Sw.) DC.
Lichen melanocarpus Sw., Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl.: 147 (1788).
Sphaerophoron australe Laurer, Linnaea 2: 44 (1827).
Thallus corticolous, with numerous, crowded, smaller, sterile basal branches and less frequent, better developed fertile branches. Fertile branches erect to decumbent, compressed, becoming subterete in secondary and terminal branchlets, to 5 cm long and 0.7-1.4 mm wide. Upper surface subconvex, greyish- green, not isidiate, larger branches transversely annulate-cracked, lower surface pale, plane to irregularly wrinkled, especially near apothecia, upper cortex in fertile branches 70-100 µm thick, lower cortex 40-60 µm thick. Algal layer 15-30 µm thick, continuous beneath upper cortex, occurring in isolated areas on lower side. Apothecia frequent, 1.2-3.5 mm diam., subterminal, mazaedium sub- terminal to ventral, exposed at an early stage of development by irregular rupture of enclosing receptacle, margin of receptacle fringed with small isidia- like branchlets. Asci cylindrical, 40-50 × 5-7 µm. Ascospores grey, spherical 5.5-8 µm, often surrounded by dark, carbonaceous material. Chemistry: K+ pale yellow or -, Pd+ orange or -. Two chemodemes: (i) Sphaerophorin, norstictic, constictic and stictic acids, (ii) Sphaerophorin.
N: Hawke's Bay to Wellington. S: Nelson to Southland. St: Ch: A: C: Widespread, common.
Cosmopolitan
Characterised by the compressed branches, the small grey to hyaline spores and stictic acid in the medulla.
