Fuscidea asbolodes
≡Lecidea asbolodes Nyl. in J. Crombie, J. Bot. 14: 21 (1876).
Description : Thallus very thin, dingy pale grey with a brownish tinge (especially when wet), almost confluent to minutely rimose; prothallus usually indistinct. Medulla I−. Apothecia rather irregular, 0.3–0.6 (rarely to 0.8) mm diam., sessile, rarely slightly constricted at base or semi-immersed, black (discs here and there brownish), margins conspicuous, disc concave to flat, epruinose. Exciple well-developed, brown-black to black. Hypothecium colourless. Hymenium 55–80 μm tall, colourless. Epithecium brownish. Asci cylindrical, 40–55 × 12–20 μm. Ascopores broadly ellipsoidal to subspherical, 7.5–12 × 4.5–7(–9) μm. Conidia ellipsoidal 2–4.5 × 1.4–2 μm.
Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.
S: Otago (Poolburn Reservoir, Rock & Pillar Ra., near Museum Rock). A: (Summits of Mt Eden, and Bivouac Hill), C: On basaltic rocks, rare. Also known from Kerguelen (type locality) Heard I., Marion I, Prince Edward I., Tasmania and Macquarie I. (Hertel 1984b, 1985b, 1989; Øvstedal & Gremmen 2001; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Kantvilas 2004g).
Austral
Illustrations : Øvstedal & Lewis Smith (2001: 185, fig. 23); Kantvilas (2001: 174, fig. 1A).
Fuscidea asbolodes is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; a thin, sometimes rather indistinct, pale greyish or brown-grey thallus (TLC−); small, semi-immersed, black apothecia; and the ellipsoidal to subspherical ascospores, 7.5–12 × 4.5–7(–9) μm.
