Flora of New Zealand Series

Thallus crustose, granular, squamulose or marginally foliose, attached by medullary hyphae or rhizines, terricolous or saxicolous. Podetia supporting apothecia simple, 1-3-branched towards apices in some species, scarcely developed in others. Photobiont green, Cystococcus, in a continuous zone in the primary thallus. Apothecia round, swollen or expanded, on tips of podetia, often clustered on ± distinct stipes. Ascospores fusiform or ellipsoid, colourless, simple to 3-septate, 8 per ascus.

Baeomyces is a cosmopolitan genus of c. 44 species of which three are known from New Zealand [Galloway Bot. Notiser. 133: 77-83 (1980)]. Together with the genus Icmadophila it comprises the family Baeomycetaceae. Species are frequently found on clay soils, or banks on roadsides, and when fertile are often colourfully conspicuous. Typification of synonyms follows Galloway (loc. cit.)