Topic summary
Exciple
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Lichen.
Sexual reproduction
The apothecium has a layer of exposed spore-producing cells called asci (singular: ascus), and is usually a different color from the thallus tissue. When the apothecium has an outer margin, the margin is called the exciple. When the exciple has a color similar to colored thallus tissue the apothecium or lichen is called lecanorine, meaning similar to members of the genus Lecanora. When the exciple is blackened like carbon it is called lecideine meaning similar to members of the genus Lecidea. When the margin is pale or colorless it is called biatorine.