Ocellularia Lichen

Ocellularia cavata

Ocellularia cavata (Acharius) Müller-Argau, 1882b:499.

Thelotrema cavatum Acharius, 1812:92 [type-collection: Sierra Leone, Afzelius (H, lectotype; S, UPS, isotypes)].—Hale, 1971b, fig. 1a.

Ascidium cinchonarum Fée, 1824:96 [type-collection: On Cinchona, South America (G, lectotype; H, L, M, P, isotypes); Figure 9e].

Ocellularia cinchonarum (Fée) Sprengel, 1827:242.

Ascidium cinchonarum f. intermedium Nylander, 1867:319 [type-collection: Pie de Cuesta, Colombia, Lindig 5 (H, lectotype; BM, G, M, isotypes); Figure 9c].

Ocellularia lindigiana Müller-Argau, 1887a:9 [type-collection: Colombia, Lindig 2757 (G, lectotype; BM, FH, UPS, isotypes); Figure 9d].

Ocellularia cinchonarum (Fée) Sprengel f. intermedia (Nylander) Zahlbruckner, 1923:586.

Thallus whitish mineral gray, epiphloeodal, continuous, more or less roughened, forming colonies up to 8 cm across; apothecia ascidioid, 0.7–0.9 mm in diameter, apically carbonized with a large columella (Figure 6c); pore round, 0.07–0.12 mm in diameter, the top of the columella clearly visible; spores 8, 6–8 loculate, 6μ–8μ × 22μ–28μ, I+ blue. (Figure 9f).

CHEMISTRY.—”Cinchonarum” unknowns A and B and a yellowish pigment.

HABITAT.—Canopy branch in mid-elevation rain forest (about 550 m).

I had previously typified this distinctive but rare Acharian species. It appears to be rare in the Lesser Antilles. The chief diagnostic features are the unusual chemistry, small ascidioid apothecia, and the large columella which protrudes into the pore area.

SPECIMEN EXAMINED.—14 (35134).