Hot Dots - Arthonia kermesina
Author: R.C. Harris, E. Tripp & Lendemer
Also listed as: Coniarthonia kermesina (R.C. Harris, E. Tripp & Lendemer) Aptroot & Ertz
Joseph (one of trip leaders) tells us the lichen body is inside the bark of the red spruce (Picea rubens). Only fungal reproductive structures are visible. This lichen is only known from a few locations in the Great Smokies and also in the Black Mountain (North Carolina) area.
References
Northeast Park, on wood post in meadow. Thallus sorediate. Apothecia convex, biatorine, pruinose. All parts POL-. Asci globose, ~40x17µm. Spores 3-septate, hyaline, 16.5-21.5 x 4.8-5.1µm
seem longer than previous observations... On Oak branch
Apothecia >1mm Star Rosette or Hoary?...
Dry and hydrated pics..
UV + orange ... sorry my pics don't pick up the strong orange color.. hydrated and dry pics
Maybe Phaeographis fusca ref: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1238159-Phaeographis-fusca
Substrate is lumps of clay on bare, finely graveled ground, with hardpan underneath. Wildflowers present in this area indicate mafic soils. The area of 1st photo is less than 1 sq inch. It rained all day today, so the pics look especially wet.
Base of Oak.. insidia and lobules .. wet and dry pics .. UV - .. K -