- 1858. Lepidoderma DeBy., MS. Rost., Versuch, p. 13.
Sporangia stalked or sessile; peridium cartilaginous, adorned without with large calcareous scales, superficial or shut in lenticular cavities; capillitium non-calcareous.[33]
Key to Species of Lepidoderma
| A. Sporangia stipitate, stipe brown | 1. L. tigrinum |
| B. Sporangia sessile, plasmodiocarpous, spores 10–12 µ | 2. L. carestianum |
| C. Sporangia plasmodiocarpous, spores 8–10 µ | 3. L. chailletii |
1. Lepidoderma tigrinum (Schrad.) Rost.
[Plate XIV.], Fig. 7.
- 1797. Didymium tigrinum Schrad., Nov. Gen. Plantarum, p. 22.
- 1873. Lepidoderma tigrinum (Schrad.) Rost., Versuch, p. 13.
Sporangia scattered, rather large, hemispherical-depressed, stipitate, umbilicate beneath, the peridium shining, olivaceous or purplish, tough, covered more or less abundantly with angular scales; the stipe stout, furrowed, dark brown, but containing calcareous deposits withal, tapering upward, and continued within the peridium as a pronounced more or less calcareous columella; hypothallus more or less prominent, yellowish or brownish; capillitium dark, purplish-brown, of sparingly branching threads radiating from the columella; spores dull purplish-brown, minutely roughened, 10–12 µ.
A singular species, rare, but easily recognized by its peculiar, placoid scales, large and firmly embedded in the peridial wall. The internal structure is essentially that of Diderma or Didymium. The species occurs in hilly or mountainous regions, on moss-covered logs. The plasmodium pale yellow, some part of it not infrequently remains as a venulose hypothallus connecting such sporangia as are near together.