Trypethelium floridanum

Spore Ascus

Thin Section

Thallus

Lichen Index

An ascus with a full compliment of mature spores nearly ready to break free. Making a thin slice of the apothecia or perethecia and viewing it under magnification does not guarantee that asci and spores will be seen as clearly as in this photo. Sometimes asci will be empty, either by aborting the spore producing process or because of immaturity. Some lichens produce very few (or no) asci even though they go through ascomata (apothecia or perethecia) production.