Fissurina inspersa

The thallus forms a crust on bark and is typically 0.5–1 cm across and about 30–60 μm (micrometers) thick. It forms a continuous crust with a smooth to slightly uneven surface, coloured yellowish to pale greenish white. The photobiont (the photosynthetic partner) is a trentepohlioid alga (Trentepohlia-type). In cross-section, the upper cortex is only partly well-organized, with areas that are more loosely developed, and crystals occur in scattered clusters. The lirellae are straight to curved, unbranched, and immersed in the thallus. They are fissurine and have a thick, complete thalline margin. Individual lirellae are about 0.5–1 mm long and about 0.1 mm wide and high, with the disk partly exposed and dark gray-pruinose (with a powdery coating), while the labia are inconspicuous. Microscopically, the hymenium is 50–60 μm high and is strongly and densely inspersed (filled with tiny droplets that make the spore-producing layer look cloudy). The inspersion persists even in potassium hydroxide solution (K). The asci usually contain eight ellipsoid ascospores. The spores are 3-septate (divided by three internal walls), about 12–18 × 6–9 μm, and non-amyloid (I–). The thallus contains stictic acid (major) with a trace of constictic acid. …

Fissurina inspersa is known from several collections, all from Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Collier County, Florida, where it grows on the bark of hardwood trees. Additional material was cited from the Scenic Drive near gate 14 and from the K2 trail among royal palms, in a second-growth setting within the preserve.

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