Lepra thamnolica
Synonyms
Pertusaria thamnolica A.W.Archer
Family
Pertusariaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
2018 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: SO
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; disc-like apothecia; 8-spored asci; and the presence of thamnolic acid.
Distribution
North Island: Taranaki (Ngatoro Track South of New Plymouth). South Island: Canterbury (Nina Valley near Lewis Pass).
Also known from New South Wales in Australia.
Habitat
On fallen branches.
Detailed description
Thallus off-white to pale-grey, areolate, surface smooth and dull, without isidia or soredia. Apothecia disc-like, conspicuous, scattered, 0.5–1.5 mm diam., margins, thick, inrolled, discs white-pruinose. Ascospores 8 per ascus, uniseriate, ellipsoidal, smooth, 22–32 × 12–17 μm, wall single, 1 μm thick.
Chemistry: K+ yellow, C−, KC−, Pd+ yellow; containing thamnolic acid.
Similar taxa
It is distinguished from L. truncata, which is morphologically similar, by the presence of thamnolic acid and the slightly larger ascospores.
Substrate
Corticolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (12 October 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.