Galapagos Species Database

Thallus thin, inconspicuous, almost entirely embedded in the substrate, of the same color as the substrate or slightly darker, ochraceous, olive to deep brown; surface smooth, not pruinose; Apothecia prominent to sessile, lirellate; lirellae elongate, broad; labia black, but entirely covered by a thick, white, C+ red pruina (lecanoric acid); disc concealed, a thin slit; exciple laterally strongly carbonized, ±open below; hymenium hyaline, clear (not inspers), I–; ascospores hyaline, I–, 8 per ascus, short and broad, narrowly ellipsoid to broadly fusiform, 16-22 x 7-10 µm, transversely septate, 4-celled Chemistry: Apothecial pruina C+ red; lecanoric acid.

Some records in Weber (1986) are misidentifications of Helminthocarpon leprevostii, a species that is very common throughout the Galapagos dry lowlands, but one specimen collected by Pike (ID 37-18) is confirmed here as D. afzelii. This conspicuous species has since not been re-discovered and must be presumed extinct from the archipelago.