Traponora asterella Aptroot

Data Set Maintenance: Data set compiled and standard item. Data set author(s): Kainz C. (03-04-02). Data set not revised; to be published after submission.

Nomenclature: Current taxonomic status: accepted or basionymous. Taxonomic rank: species. Traponora. Lecanoraceae Körb. (1855); Lecanorineae; Lecanorales.

Taxonomic Literature: Aptroot et al., Biblioth. Lichenol. 64: 1-220 (1997).

Biogeography: Continent: Australasia.

Ecology: Biotroph; lichenized; corticolous; episubstratic.

Thallus: Crustose, not subdivided parts, granular. Thallus Size and Differentiation: Up to 2 cm long. Thallus Outline: Persistent; black. Upper Surface: Pale grey, smooth; special structures absent.

Reproduction Strategy: With sexual (and possible asexual) stages (surrounded by flaking thallus parts which may give them an star-like appearance). Ascocarps: Apothecioid, irregular (often confluent), forming independently from the host thallus or mycelium, soon sessile, .2-.8 mm in diam.. Margin: 0-20 µm wide. Disk: Excavate or weakly convex, pale to dark brown. Exciple: Pale brown. Epithecium: Apical cells pale brown. Hymenium: 55-95 µm high; white; not inspers. Interascal Hyphae: Not or scarcely anastomosed (sparingly near the base). Hypothecium: 20-50 µm high; white.

Asci: 30-40 µm long, 10-15 µm wide; dehiscence lecanoralean (clavate).

Ascospores: c. 8 per ascus, spores 8 per ascus, ellipsoid (to pyriform, often asymmetrical), 10-12-(14) µm long, 5.5-6.5 µm wide; septa absent; wall thick (often with a c. 1.5 µm thick gelatinous sheath), distinctly differentiated into primary and secondary wall (often with a c. 1.5 µm thick gelatinous sheath), not ornamented (often with a c. 1.5 µm thick gelatinous sheath).

(report generated 04.Okt.2007)