description Endocarpon pusillum Overview
Endocarpon pusillum is a small squamulose lichen that grows on bare or moss-covered soil and soil over rock. Its brown to ochre squamules are usually attached to a dark basal layer and bear conspicuous black rhizines, while its immersed perithecia produce muriform spores. The species occurs on both calcareous and non-calcareous substrates from low elevations to mountains and has a cosmopolitan distribution. It is identified by the combination of squamules, black rhizines, and typically two-spored asci.
help Endocarpon pusillum FAQ
How can I recognize Endocarpon pusillum?
It has small brown to ochre squamules, usually about 1 to 3 millimeters wide, attached to a dark basal layer. Conspicuous black rhizines anchor the squamules to the soil or rock. [Consortium of Lichen Herbaria](https://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=56460)
Where does Endocarpon pusillum grow?
This lichen grows on bare soil, moss-covered soil, and soil over rock. Its habitat can include both calcareous and siliceous ground, so the substrate is not limited to one rock type.
How does Endocarpon pusillum reproduce?
Its perithecia are immersed in the squamules, and the fruiting structures produce muriform ascospores. A single squama can contain several immersed perithecia, which appear as dark reproductive points.
How is Endocarpon pusillum different from a crustose lichen such as Staurothele?
Endocarpon pusillum is squamulose and has a lower surface with black rhizines, while Staurothele is truly crustose. The combination of attached scales, rhizines, and immersed perithecia is useful for separating them.
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