Ocellularia antillensis Hale

Ocellularia antillensis Hale

Thallus corticola, albidus, epiphloeodes, planus vel minute verrucosus, nitidus, 3–5 cm latus; apothecia numerosa, emergentia, 0.3–0.5 mm diametro, apice obfusca, columellata, columella 0.15 mm lata; ostiolum 0.1–0.12 mm diametro, intus nigrum; hymenium 70μ–80μ altum; sporae 8:nae, transversim 7 loculatae, 7μ × 20μ I+ coerulescentes (Figure 9g).

CHEMISTRY.—Psoromic and conpsoromic acids.

HOLOTYPE.—Trail to Madjini, low elevation windward rain forest, Dominica, elevation about 30 m, Hale 35612, January 1969 (US).

HABITAT.—Upper trunk of stunted rain forest trees (30m).

The whitish minutely verrucose thallus and numerous emergent apothecia with the large contrasting black pore area distinguish this rare species. Ocellularia comparabilis var. microcarpa Redinger has larger spores (6μ × 30μ–34μ), sparse apothecia, and a smooth thallus, while O. terebrata (Acharius) Müller-Argau has barely emergent apothecia (see Hale, 1972). I later collected this species from Trinidad and Panama, both at low elevation.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—3 miles NW of Sangre Grande, Trinidad, Hale 37444 (US); Barro Colorado Island, Panama, Hale 38659 (US).