Lepra psoromica
Synonyms
Pertusaria psoromica
Family
Pertusariaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; and the presence of numerous, conspicuous, white soralia, reacting K− and Pd+ intense-yellow (psoromic acid).
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Great Barrier Island, Rakitu Island), South Auckland (Mt Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, Upper Kauaeranga Gorge), Wellington (Rimutaka Ranges). South Island: Nelson (Kaihoka), Marlborough (Mt Maud, d’Urville Island), Westland (between Greymouth and Runanga), Otago (Silver Peaks, Mt Cargill), Southland (Cascade Creek, Eglinton Valley). Stewart Island: (Port Pegasus, Islet Cove).
Also in Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Habitat
On Aristotelia serrata, Coprosma arborea, Dysoxylum spectabile, Metrosideros excelsa, Nothofagus menziesii [Lophozonia menziesii], Olearia furfuracea, O. rani, Rhopalostylis sapida, s.l. to 700 m.
Detailed description
Thallus dull-fawn or pale olive-green, areolate, surface smooth or subtubercular, somewhat shiny, soredia present; without isidia. Soralia conspicuous, numerous, white, initially pustulate, composed of granular soredia, hemispherical or discoid, 0.5–2.0 mm diam. Apothecia not seen.
Chemistry: K−, KC−, C−, Pd+ intense-yellow; containing psoromic acid (major) and conpsoromic acid (minor).
Substrate
Corticolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Melissa Hutchison (15 March 2022). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, and Features 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.