Parmelina quercina
Synonyms
Lichen quercinus Willd., Parmelina quercina (Willd.) Hale
Family
Parmeliaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Foliose
Current conservation status
2018 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: OL, SO
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; the absence of isidia and soredia; the presence of distinct white maculae on the upper surface of the lobes; and the presence of lecanoric acid in the medulla.
Distribution
South Island: Otago (Akatore saltmarsh).
Widely distributed in temperate regions.
Habitat
On twigs of shrubs, growing with Austromelanelixia, Menegazzia and Teloschistes chrysophthalmus.
Detailed description
Thallus closely attached, 5–120 cm diam. Lobes scarcely imbricate, elongate, irregularly branched, 1–2.5 mm wide; cilia sparse to moderately numerous, 0.1–0.15 mm long, black. Upper surface pale greenish grey to whitish grey, convex, dull, distinctly white-maculate on marginal lobes (×10 lens); slightly wrinkled, without isidia or soredia. Lower surface black, rhizinate. Rhizines sparse, simple or rarely squarrosely branched, black. Apothecia common, 2–6 mm wide; disc plane to subconcave; exciple smooth. Ascospores broadly ellipsoidal, 9–12 × 6–9 μm. Pycnidia common. Conidia bacillar, 6–8 × 1 μm.
Chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K−, C+ red, KC+ red, Pd−; containing atranorin, chloroatranorin and lecanoric acid (major).
Similar taxa
Similar to other Parmelioid lichens but distinguished by rhizines hairs and chemistry. Distinguished from other Parmelina species by its distinctly maculate upper surface, especially at margins.
Substrate
Corticolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (10 February 2023). 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.