Cladonia polycarpoides
Family
Cladoniaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Fruticose
Current conservation status
2018 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
Brief description
Characterised by the mats of persistent basal squamules up to 10 mm long and the presence of norstictic acid (K+ red). Podetia when present are regularly fertile.
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Three Kings Is, Karikari Peninsula, Herekino Gorge) to Auckland (Waitakere Ra.).
Total range: North America, Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, and Australia.
Habitat
On soil, frequently as squamules.
Detailed description
Basal squamules persistent, conspicuous, to 10 mm long and 3 mm wide, subdichotomous, laciniate, apices rounded, underside white, upper surface olive-green to brown, becoming erect, forming tufts and exposing white lower surface. Podetia growing from upper surface of basal squamules, 5–25 mm tall, 0.5–2.5 mm diam., subcylindrical, without scyphi, simple or sparingly branched towards apices; cortex continuous or subcontinuous, without soredia and usually without squamules, olive greenish to brown; podetial wall indistinctly fissured, verruculose. Apothecia terminal, 0.5–2.0 mm diam., convex, brown.
Chemistry: Cortex K+ red, C−, KC−, Pd+ yellow; containing norstictic, connorstictic acids and homoheveadride.
Similar taxa
C. neozelandica is similar but has generally much more robust and longer basal squamules. It is morphologically similar to C. tessellata.
Substrate
Terricolous.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (21 September 2021). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features and Similar taxa sections copied from Galloway (2007).
References and further reading
Galloway D.J. 2007: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens, including lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi. 2nd edition. Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua Press. 2261 pp