Cetraria islandica subsp. antarctica
Family
Parmeliaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Fruticose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Distribution
South Island: Nelson (St Arnaud Range, Mt Technical above Lewis Pass), Marlborough (Black Birch Range), Canterbury (Torlesse Range, Mt Somers, Mt Peel, Four Peaks Range, Mt Nimrod Hunters Hills), Otago (Humboldt Mountains, Remarkables, Pisa Range, Dunstan Mountains, St Mary’s Range., Hawkdun Range, Kakanui Mountains, Old Man Range, Umbrella Mountains, Garvie Mountains, Rock & Pillar Range, Lammermoor Range).
Known also from the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania in Australia, in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados in southern South America, the Falklands Islands, South Georgia, and from Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea.
Habitat
Among cushion or fellfield vegetation, 1400–1800 m.
Detailed description
Thallus (1-)2-4(-6) cm tall, usually dichotomously branching, sometimes with only a few short lateral branches, rarely unbranched. Lobes variable, rather stiff and thick, 1-5(-15) mm broad, canaliculate or flatter with margins bent inwards, rarely flat and then only widest lobes, margins usually with a distinct ledge. Lower surface dark brown or chestnut-brown in upper parts, dominating middle part usually lighter in colour, yellowish-brown or greyish-brown, basal parts dullish red to dark red, usually smooth, sometimes slightly wrinkled or pitted especially in broader lobe portions, glossy or dull. Upper surface concolorous, sometimes darker especially in upper parts, glossy or dull, marginal pseudocyphellae sometimes forming a continuous line, but often only present as whitish dots along margin, laminal pseudocyphellae when present few and small, marginal projections usually present, numerous to sparse, 0.1-0.5 mm long. Apothecia not seen. Pycnidia dark brown at ends of marginal projections. Conidia rod-shaped 6 × 1 µm.
Chemistry: Medulla K− or K+ yellowish, C−, KC−, Pd− yellowish to reddish or −; containing fumarprotocetraric acid (±) and lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids.
Similar taxa
Cetraria islandica subsp. antarctica differs from subsp. islandica (which occurs in Europe, northern Asia and North America) in its usually smaller and stiffer lobes, the few laminal pseudocyphellae, and the frequently abundant marginal projections.
Substrate
Terricolous
Etymology
antarctica: Antarctic
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (4 February 2024). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features and Similar taxa sections copied from Galloway (1985) & Galloway (2007).
References and further reading
Galloway D.J. 1985: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens. Wellington: PD Hasselberg, Government Printer. 662 pp.
Galloway D.J. 2007: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens, including lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi. 2nd edition. Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua Press. 2261 pp.