Lichenologist 40: 332 (2008).
Synonyms: Index Fungorum
Protolog: Protoparmeliae pulchrae affinis, ob thallos et soralis hemisphaerica ab eo removendum.
Type locality: USA, Florida, Highlands County, Archbold Biological Station, on Old SR 8, SE Tract, Carya floridana scrub on yellow sand along fire lane, 26.3.1998, R. C. Harris 41766 (NY - holotype; B, F - isotypes).
Type locality coordinates: 27°10'50?N, 81°21'0?W; 27.180556, -81.35.
Barcode: EU620167 for Lendemer 9017.
Thallus: crustose, corticate, continuous, grey to grey-brown, shiny, smooth to cracked, thin to moderately thick (80-100 µm), often with dark (brown/blackish) prothallus; soredia 16-23-29 µm diam., aggregated in massive capitate hemispherical soralia (0.8-1.25 mm diam., 0.5-0.8 tall). Apothecia rare, immature when present in the material examined (lacking well-developed hymenium with asci and ascospores), lecanorine, margin concolorous with the thallus; epihymenium brownish-red. Pycnidia unknown (Lendemer & Lumbsch 2008: 333).
Photobiont: chlorococcoid, 7.7-9-10.3) µm.
Chemistry: Alectoronic acid (medulla), traces of alpha-collatolic acid (medulla). Spot tests: K-, C-, KC+ red, P-, UV+ bright blue-white (Lendemer & Lumbsch 2008: 333).
Ecology: Corticolous on the bark of hardwood.
Distribution: Protoparmelia capitata is widespread in the subtropical portions of the coastal plain of eastern North America. Presently Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Database
Molecular data: Genbank
Mycobank: Mycobank
Note:
Pictures: Tropical Lichens
Typus: USA, Florida, Highlands Co., Archbold Biological Station, on Old SR 8, SE Tract, Carya floridana scrub on yellow sand along fire lane, 26 March 1998, R. C. Harris 41766 (NY - holotypus; B, F - isotypi).