Tephromela atra

Spore Ascus

Thin Section

Thallus

Lichen Index

A stained thin slice of the apothecia shows its parts. The blue is the hymenial tissue in which is imbedded the asci. The red area is called the hypothecium. The thin reddish-brown line is a poorly developed exciple which is a common trait of the genus. The orange-brown zone at the bottom is a green algal layer mixed with hyphal tissue of the fungus. The green color of the algae has been altered somewhat by the addition of chemicals in the staining process.