Bunodophoron pinnatum

Bunodophoron pinnatum is a species of lichen in the family Sphaerophoraceae. Found in the Northern Province of Papua New Guinea, it was described as new to science in 2011 by lichenologist Mats Wedin. Its distinct elongated thallus and small brown set it apart from other similar lichen species.

Taxonomy
Bunodophoron pinnatum was first formally described by Swedish lichenologist Mats Wedin as a new species in 2011. The species epithet pinnatum is derived from the Latin word for "feathered" and refers to the pinnate branching pattern of the thallus. The type specimen was collected in 1988 from English Peaks in the Northern Province of Papua New Guinea, at 3600 m above sea level.

Description
The thallus of Bunodophoron pinnatum is elongated and narrow, reaching up to 7 cm in length. Its fertile branches are narrowly flattened to almost cylindrical, ranging from 30 to 50 mm long and 1 to 2 mm wide. The major branches are sparingly branched but typically have numerous, perpendicular, cylindrical along the sides.

The upper surface of the thallus is pale gray to white, with a smooth or texture that may appear slightly wrinkled above the. The lower surface is white. The ascomata are sparse and terminal, measuring 2 to 4 mm wide. The are more or less spherical, 6.5 to 7.5 μm in diameter, greyish-brown, and have an irregular ornamentation of  material.

Bunodophoron pinnatum can be distinguished from other species in the genus by its almost cylindrical main branches, unique pinnate branching pattern, and comparatively small, brown ascospores. Additionally, it contains sphaerophorin and protocetraric acid, which are lichen products that are relatively rare in tropical species.

Habitat and distribution
Bunodophoron pinnatum has been found in only three localities in the Northern Province of Papua New Guinea. According to the available data, it grows on the trunks of Dacrycarpus trees in stunted, Dacrycarpus-dominated forests around Mount Kenevi.