Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lecidea (Sporostatia) desmaspora C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 16: 403 (1884).

≡Sporastatia desmaspora (C.Knight) C.W.Dodge, Nova Hedwigia 19: 482 (1971)["1970"].

Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], 6.viii.1883, Charles Knight – BM [fide Galloway (1985a: 38)]. Isolectotype – ?WELT.

Description : Flora (1985: 38).

N: ? Wellington. On trees ? Melicytus, amongst epiphytic mosses. Also recorded from Macquarie I. (Dodge 1971; Kantvilas & Seppelt 1992).

Endemic

Illustration : Knight (1884: pl. XXXIX No. 11 – as Lecidea desmaspora).

Biatorella desmaspora is characterised by: a pale green-white or grey-white, granular, arachnoid, floury-sorediate thallus; small (0.1–0.5) mm diam., convex, hemispherical, immarginate, brown or brown-black apothecia; and numerous, minute (1 μm), globose ascospores.