Pyrenula cruenta

Spore Ascus

Thin Section

Thallus

Lichen Index

This brightly colored and easily identified lichen has a different type of fruiting body called perethecia. With most perethecial lichens (P. cruenta included), the spore producing mechanism is contained inside a cavity which has a tiny opening to the outside called an ostiole. When mature spores will be ejected through this opening. This is a common type of lichen in Subtropical Florida and the Pyrenula genus is well represented by many species which occur here. One common name given to this species is "bark rash lichen".