Leprantha Dufour ex Körb.
Syst. Lich. Germ.: 294, 1855.
Systematics:
Phylum: Ascomycota Caval.-Sm.
Subphylum: Pezizomycotina O.E.Erikss. & Winka
Class: Arthoniomycetes O.E.Erikss. & Winka
Order: Arthoniales Henssen ex D.Hawksw. & O.E.Erikss.
Family: Arthoniaceae Rchb. ex Rchb.
Brief description: Thallus crustose. Apothecia arthonioid, at first semi-immersed, then slightly projecting, rounded, elliptical or weakly lobed, with a pruinose disc, without a distinct proper margin. Proper exciple poorly developed, of brown hyphae; epithecium brownish; hymenium colourless or yellowish, I+ red; paraphysoids slender, richly branched and anastomosing, the apical cells with a distinct cap; hypothecium pale. Asci (6-)8-spored, broadly clavate to subglobose, semi-fissitunicate, with a large apical dome and a distinct ocular chamber, the wall not laterally thickened, the tholus without horizontal layers, approaching the Arthonia-type. Ascospores (2-)3-4(-5)-septate, narrowly ovoid, pointed at one end, with the opposite terminal cells distinctly enlarged, hyaline or pale brown when overmature. Pycnidia numerous, black, more or less immersed, the wall reddish brown. Conidia bacilliform, straight. Photobiont trentepohlioid. Chemistry: thallus with psoromic acid.
Note: A recently resurrected genus for its type species, which appears to be related to Arthonia ilicina, the generic affiliation of the latter species deserving however further study (see Ertz & al. 2018).
Type: Leprantha cinereopruinosa (Schaer.) Körb..
