The thallus of the
Mangoldia species is
corticolous, meaning it primarily grows on the bark of trees. It is continuous and partly endoperidermal, indicating that part of the thallus grows beneath the outer bark layer. The surface of the thallus is uneven and white. When observed in cross-section, it features a very thin, corticiform (bark-like) layer and an irregular layer containing algal cells that are essential for
photosynthesis.
Apothecia (fruiting bodies) emerge from the thallus and are angular to (slit-shaped). The of the apothecia is exposed and ranges in colour from blackish brown to black, without any powdery or waxy covering (). The margin around the disc is thin, white, and may be fissured to lobulated. The , which is distinct from the thalline margin, is thin, stands out prominently, and is black. In a cross-section, this margin appears very thin and consists of densely packed fungal cells (), which are pale yellowish to brownish on the outer parts. There are no s (hair-like structures) present. The
hymenium (the spore-bearing layer) does not contain interspersed particles, and the
paraphyses (sterile filaments within the hymenium) are unbranched. The , which are spores produced within the
asci (spore-producing cells), number 4 to 8 per ascus. They are (divided by both transverse and longitudinal
septa),
ellipsoid in shape, and have thickened septa that
stain violet-blue with
iodine, with rounded internal spaces () and are colourless. No chemical substances were detected in this genus when tested with
thin-layer chromatography, suggesting a lack of distinctive
secondary metabolites typically used for identifying and classifying lichens. ==Species==