Galapagos Species Database

Thallus thin, inconspicuous, almost entirely embedded in the substrate, of the same color as the substrate or slightly darker, more yellowish orange; surface smooth, not pruinose; Apothecia embedded in distinctly blackened, prominent stromata, lirellate; lirellae variable, rarely irregularly broadly discoid, but typically intricately branched; labia blackened, forming a thin rim; disc expanded, flattened, blackened, but densely covered in a granular brown pruina; exciple extending from the carbonized hypothecium as a very thin, entirely carbonized layer that is typically separated from the surrounding, strongly carbonized stroma by a fine slit; hymenium hyaline, clear (not inspers), I+ weakly violet or pale grayish blue; ascospores hyaline, I+ bluish violet, 8 per ascus, fusiform, slightly tapering at one end, 27-60 x 6.5-10 µm, transversely septate, 8-13 celled, typically with a fine, < 5 µm thin halo. Chemistry: No substances found; all spot tests negative.

Easily recognized by its distinct, elevated, blackened stromata with brownish, often intricately branched lirellae; hardly confused with any other Galapagos species.