Heterodermia fragmentata

The species has a foliose (leafy) thallus, forming tufts up to 7 cm in diameter, with linear, grey lobes up to 1 cm long and 0.7–2.2 mm wide. The tips of these lobes are often slightly recurved and spotted with white pruina. The lobes have margins with a thin dark grey line, while the lower surface is arachnoid, white, and often blackens towards the centre. It features black, shiny, mostly simple (unbranched) cilia up to 3 mm long.^[2]

The lichen reproduces through apothecia, which are rare, stipitate, and laminal on the upper surface of the thallus lobes. These apothecia develop tapering lobes around their margins, with a brown disc covered in pale brown pruina. The thallus surface lacks soredia, isidia, and lobules. Instead, the non-peripheral part of the thallus becomes dissected into small lobes with similar cilia. It contains atranorin in the cortex and zeorin in the medulla.^[2]

Heterodermia fragmentata is found on trees and shrubs, predominantly in submontane forests and open mountainous areas. It is known only from Sri Lanka, where it is widespread and locally abundant.^[2]