Ocellularia mordenii Hale

Ocellularia mordenii Hale

Thallus corticola, pallide cinereo- vel brunneoalbidus, epiphloeodes, continuus, aetate rimosus, nitidus, usque ad 12 cm latus; medulla omnino sanguinea; apothecia dispersa, vix emergentia, apice obfusca, extus crasse verrucosa, verrucis fragilibus, rumpentibus, columella nulla vel parce evoluta (Figure 6b); ostiolum rotundum, 0.08–0.12 mm diametro; hymenium circa 200μ altum; sporae 1–2:nae, transversim 24–30 loculatae, 15μ–20μ × 70μ–150μ, I+ coerulescentes (Figure 11k).

CHEMISTRY.—Unidentified anthraquinone pigments only.

HOLOTYPE.—Canopy branches in primary rain forest, Dleau Gommier Forest Reserve, Dominica, elevation about 370 m, Hale 37764, 12 December 1971 (US).

HABITAT.—Canopy branches in rain forest (370–800 m).

The deep red pigment and large warts are distinctive. It is a conspicuous canopy species. A very similar species in Cuba, O. xanthostroma (Nylander) Zahlbruckner, differs mainly in containing a K– pale yellow-orange pigment. This lichen is named in honor of Mrs. William J. Morden.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—12 (37909), 15 (35198), 16a (38051), 16b (37791), 16c (37762, 37886, 37887, 37010), 26a (37863).