Heterodermia microphylla
Synonyms
Polyblastidium microphyllum (Kurok.) Kalb
Family
Physciaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Foliose
Current conservation status
2018 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, SO, Sp
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; marginal phyllidia; a non-corticate lower surface; and a chemistry of atranorin and zeorin.
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Whangarei, Warkworth).
Known also from India, Thailand, China, Japan, East and South Africa, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Habitat
On bark of trees and shrubs in parks, gardens and roadside verges.
Detailed description
Lobes slightly disjunct to adjacent, ± plane, not ascending, with short lateral lobes. Upper surface uneven, squamulose. Squamules marginal and laminal, dissected, sometimes sorediate. Lower surface pale, ecorticate. Apothecia laminal, sessile to subpedicellate, thalline exciple squamulose or ± sorediate. Ascospores without sporoblastidia, 25-35 × 12-18 µm
Chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow, C–, KC–, P+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow, C–, P+ pale yellow; containing atranorin (major), zeorin (major), aipolic acid (trace), 6α-acetoxyhopane-16β,22- diol (trace), japonin (trace), 6α-acetoxy-16β,22-dihydroxyhopane-25-oic acid (minor), ±16βacetoxyhopane-6α,22-dihydroxyhopane-25-oic acid (trace), anaptychin 1 (trace).
Similar taxa
Heterodermia appendiculata is similar but has norstictic acid in the medulla and has longer ascospores.
Substrate
Corticolous, saxicolous
Etymology
heterodermia: From the Greek heteros (other, different) and derma (a skin or hide), in reference to the presence or absence of a lower cortex
microphylla: Small leaf
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (6 January 2024). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, and Features 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.