Leioderma sorediatum
Family
Pannariaceae
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
Leioderma sorediatum is the sorediate counterpart of L. erythrocarpum.
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Three Kings Islands, Radar Bush, Te Huka, Waipoua State Forest, Poor Knights Islands, Carpenter Bay, Tapu Bush N. Kaipara, Tutukaka, Little Barrier Island), Auckland (Waitakere Ranges), South Auckland (Cuvier Island, Ngamotukarara Island, Shoe Island, near Te Awamutu, Te Kauri Reserve near Otorohanga, Snake Gully near Taupo), Wellington (Kapiti Island). South Island: Nelson (Granity to Westport), Westland (Bruce Bay), Marlborough (Blue Duck Scientific Reserve Seaward Valley).
Known also from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, Hawai’i, Society Is, Tahiti, Western Samoa, Canada (British Columbia), United States (Oregon, Washington), Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in southern Chile.
Habitat
A species of damp, humid habitats (often among bryophytes) found on a range of phorophytes including Cyathea, Avicennia, Coprosma, Dacrydium, Dicksonia, Leptospermum, Fuscospora and also on cultivated Pinus* and Salix* species. It also occurs on pumice, clay banks and/or mossy rocks.
Detailed description
Thallus foliose, lobate, ±orbicular to irregularly spreading, 1–3(–4) cm diam., rather loosely attached. Lobes to 6 mm wide, discrete to subimbricate. Margins slightly thickened, sinuous, subascendent, entire, delicately incised or crenulate, sorediate. Soralia marginal, often ±sinuous, linear to limbiform, occasionally round, and spreading onto upper (or lower) surface; soredia coarsely granular, bluish. Upper surface ±uniformly arachnoid–tomentose, dark blue-green when wet, pale greyish or olivaceous-grey when dry, often with pale, brown-pink apothecial initials. Lower surface white, ecorticate, arachnoid, especially at margins, pale-buff towards centre, rhizinate; rhizohyphae white, buff to bluish, rarely blackened, in fascicles tufted at apices, in scattered groups or ±densely developed. Apothecia not seen. Pycnidia rare.
Chemistry: TLC−, all reactions negative.
Similar taxa
It is easily distinguished from other species in Leioderma by a combination of soralia and an arachnoid–hairy upper surface. It is often confused with Erioderma sorediatum, a species with which it is commonly sympatric; however, E. sorediatum is more narrow-lobed and has distinctive laminal arachnoid hairs and is PD+ orange (pannarin).
Substrate
Corticolous, terricolous (clay banks, pumice), saxicolous (mossy rocks)
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (18 December 2021). 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.