Haematomma alpinum
Family
Haematommataceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Recognised by the thick, white or greyish thallus, and the scarlet red apothecia.
Distribution
South Island: Nelson (Molesworth), Canterbury (Castle Hill, Mt Peel), Otago (Little Valley, Old Man Range, Dunstan Range, Remarkables, Poolburn Reservoir, Manorburn Dam, Hawkdun Range, Blue Mts).
Habitat
On subalpine vegetation, especially Melicytus alpinus. Rarely on rocks in streams in subalpine habitats. Rarely on rocks in streams in subalpine habitats. Parasitised by the lichenicolous fungus *Arthonia haematommatum (Kalb et al. 1995: 201–202).
Detailed description
Thallus crustose, white to yellow-grey, indeterminate, areolate to granular, corticate, esorediate. Apothecia sessile, constricted at base to 2.5 mm diam., thalline exciple well-developed, entire or somewhat distorted; disc bright scarlet to red-brown, epruinose. Ascospores helically arranged in ascus, asymmetric, 3–4-septate, 30–40 × 2.5–4 μm.
Chemistry: Atranorin, placodiolic acid, haematommone.
Similar taxa
Haematomma alpinum is distinguished from H. babingtonii by the epruinose discs and the presence of placidiolic acid.
Substrate
Corticolous (bark), saxicolous (rarely on rocks in streams in subalpine habitats)
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Melissa Hutchison (2 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.
Kalb K., Hafellner J. and Staiger B. 1995: Haematomma-Studien II. Lichenicole Pilze auf Arten der Flechtengattung Haematomma. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 59: 199–223.