Verrucaria saprophila (A. Massal.) Trevis., Conspect. Verruc.: 8, 1860

Pykaelae, Juha, Kantelinen, Annina & Myllys, Leena, 2020, Taxonomy of Verrucaria species characterised by large spores, perithecia leaving pits in the rock and a pale thin thallus in Finland, MycoKeys 72, pp. 43-92 : 43

Verrucaria saprophila (A. Massal.) Trevis., Conspect. Verruc.: 8, 1860

Amphoridium saprophilum A. Massal., Symmicta Lich. 79, 1855. Basionym.

Type.

[Italy,] avi in op. Avesa ([Monte] Ongarine) ad saxa putrida eocenica (VER!, syntype).

Description.

Prothallus not seen. Thallus whitish-grey, endolithic to semi-endolithic, a black line between thalli present. Perithecia 0.16-0.23 mm, immersed, leaving deep pits in the rock. Involucrellum absent. Exciple ca. 0.26 mm in diam., wall brown. Ascospores 0-septate, 24-33 × 12-18 mm.

Notes.

Krzewicka (2012) treated V. saprophila as a synonym of V. hochstetteri . However, V. hochstetteri has a larger exciple and broader spores. The species differs from V. foveolata with the presence of a dark line. Verrucaria dolomitica has larger perithecia and an apical involucrellum.