Sphinctrina tubaeformis A. Massal.

Parasitic fungus of crustose lichens.

     Thallus not visible because this species is not lichenized. Apothecia usually at the top of a stipe, 0.1-0.4 mm tall, but quite often subsessile or submerged in the host thallus (all forms can be present on the same thallus). Stipe black or brownish-black with a well-developed mazaedium, capitulum subglobose with sometimes a small "crater" in the center, 0.1-0.3 mm in diameter, black. Cylindrical asci with 8 spores whose walls disappear quickly. Ascospores are simple, broadly subfusiform with pointed tips and longitudinal striations, brownish-black, 10-15 x 6.5-8 µm according to the literature, (9) 10-15 (16) x 5-9 µm according to our measurements. Parasite of crustose lichens, particularly Pertusaria leioplaca and Pertusaria pustulata.

N.B. The specimens presented here were found on Pertusaria pseudocorallina, and according to some authors, this is a different species that deserves to be renamed.