Psoroma hypnorum (Vahl) Gray
Lichen hypnorum Vahl, Fl. dan. 6, fasc. 16: 8 (1787).
Thallus squamulose, the squamules 0.2-0.5 mm diam., sometimes almost granular, spreading irregularly over substrate, ochre-brown more rarely grey, greenish when wet, resting on a thin, indistinct, pale prothallus. Cephalodia often present, usually similar to squamules but darker, scattered among squamules or on outer surface of apothecia. Apothecia frequent, large, 1-3(-5) mm diam., disc brown or red-brown, concave to plane or undulate, smooth, matt, epruinose, margins ± squamulose or entire, the lower part ± densely covered by short, irregular, simple hairs. Ascospores ellipsoid, 19-28 × 8-10 µm, epispore warted 2-3 µm thick.
S: Canterbury (Lewis Pass, Porters Pass, Arthur's Pass), Otago (Mt Pisa, upper Route-burn, Mt Maungatua). On soil and among mosses on soil in alpine and subalpine habitats.
Cosmopolitan
Taxonomy, anatomy and habitat ecology are discussed by J¢rgensen. [ Opera Bot. 45: 26-32 (1978)].
