Flavoparmelia soredians
Synonyms
Parmelia soredians, Pseudoparmelia soredians
Family
Parmeliaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Foliose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Brief description
Characterised by the lignicolous/saxicolous habit; the granular soredia that are not derived from pustules, and by the presence of salazinic acid (K+ red) in the medulla.
Distribution
North island: Northland (Kawerua, Bay of Islands, Carpenter’s Bay, Hen & Chickens Islands, Little Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island), Auckland (One Tree Hill, The Domain, Cornwall Park Auckland City), South Auckland (Cuvier Island., Kauaeranga Valley, Mt William Scenic Reserve, Motuhora Island, Rurima Island, Pio Pio, Waimiha Stream), Wellington (Kapiti Island). South Island: Nelson (Mt Arthur), Marlborough (Stephens Island, d’Urville Island, Chetwode Island).
Known also from Australia, North America, Europe.
Habitat
Mainly on decorticated wood (fenceposts, gates, railings) rarely on rocks.
A common urban lichen in Northern New Zealand.
Detailed description
Thallus orbicular to spreading, closely attached, 5-12 cm diam., corticolous or lignicolous. Lobes small (to 5 mm wide) confluent, subirregular, rounded, margins shallowly incised. Upper surface plane, shining, wrinkled centrally, yellowish-green (usnic acid in cortex), sorediate. Soralia large, rounded, pustular, densely crowded centrally, soredia very fine, dense, farinose, yellow. Lower surface black, shining, with a shining black or brown naked marginal zone. Rhizines simple, numerous, black or pale. Apothecia (not seen in New Zealand material) rare, sessile, 1-4 mm diam., thalline exciple pustular.
Chemistry: Cortex K−, UV−; medulla K+ yellow→red, C−, KC−, Pd+ yellow-orange; containing usnic acid, salazinic acid (major), ±atranorin.
Similar taxa
Similar to other members of this genus but separated by the obvious K+ red reaction.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (16 February 2022). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features, and Similar taxa sections copied from Galloway (1985, 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.