Acarospora thelococcoides
| Acarospora thelococcoides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Acarosporales |
| Family: | Acarosporaceae |
| Genus: | Acarospora |
| Species: | A. thelococcoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Acarospora thelococcoides | |
Acarospora thelococcoides is a pruinose (dusty whitish) verruculose (warty) crustose lichen that grows in patches up to 10 cm across that grows on soil (terricolous), especially soils made from decomposed granite.[1][1]:220[2] It grows from San Benito, California to Baja California, and inland to 930 metres (3,050 ft).[2] Each roundish areole becomes more pruinose toward the top with has a single round apothecium (or none) that is immersed with a dark brown disc, so as to appear like a collection of white rings.[2] This appearance gives it the common name, soil eyes lichen.[1]:220
The asci are saccate, with variable numbers of globose ascospores.[2] Lichen spot tests are all negative, and it is UV-.[2] It is an indicator of undisturbed soil habitats.[2]