Baculifera confusa

The thallus of Baculifera confusa is crustose, endophloeodal and not apparent, or epiphloedal, extending up to approximately 15 mm wide. It varies in colour from pale grey to dark brown and is up to 100 μm thick. The lichen has a rimose or rimose-areolate texture, with areoles measuring 0.1–0.4 mm wide. The lichen does not produce soredia, and the prothallus is marginal, black when abutting other lichens, or not apparent. The medulla lacks calcium oxalate, and the photobiont cells are 10–20 μm wide.^[1]

The species is similar to Baculifera xylophila, but it can be distinguished by its colourless to pale yellow-brown hypothecium, smaller ascospores measuring 11–17 by 6–8 μm, and shorter conidia, 5–6 μm long.

Baculifera confusa is found on dead wood in inland areas of southern Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales. It often coexists with other lichen species such as Amandinea extenuata, Austromelanelixia piliferella, Austroparmelina conlabrosa, A. pseudorelicina, Buellia reagenella, Flavoparmelia rutidota, Japewiella variabilis, Physcia jackii, Ramboldia brunneocarpa, and Usnea inermis.^[1]