Table 3.

The comparisons of characters between P.perpusillusvar.scabrellus, P.perpusillusvar.perpusillus, P.exiguus and P.carolinianus.

Characters	P.perpusillusvar.scabrellus	P.perpusillusvar.perpusillus	P.exiguus	P.carolinianus
Thallus	4–10 cells thick in the middle	6–9 cells thick in the middle	6–7 cells thick in the middle	8–13 cells thick in the middle
Capsule placement	oblique	oblique	usually erect	Erect
Capsule length	usually less than 1 cm	less than 1 cm	up to 1.5 cm	usually more than 1.5 cm
Involucre	up to 2 mm high	1–2 mm high	1–2 mm high	2–4 mm high
Spore diameter	32–50 µm	40–47 µm	40–42 µm	30–37 µm
Distal surface of spore	densely vermiculate, with minute granules	pluripapillose	dense clusters of button-like papillae	densely spinose
Proximal surface of spore	loosely vermiculate in each facet	finely vermiculate in each facet	minutely papillate throughout each facet	minutely papillate in central part of each facet
Pseudoelaters (length/width ratio)	1–1.5 ×	1.5–2.5 ×	1.2–2 ×	≥4 ×