Pertusaria alboatra
Family
Pertusariaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
2018 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, Sp
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; verruciform apothecia with black ostioles; 2-spored (rarely 3-spored) asci; and thiophaninic acid in the medulla.
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Waitiki Stream, Paihia), Auckland (Rangitoto Island). South Island: Marlborough (Resolution Bay).
Habitat
On coastal shrubs, especially mangroves (Avicennia marina subsp. australasica) in northern localities; on Corynocarpus laevigatus and Melicytus ramiflorus in the Marlborough Sounds locality.
Detailed description
Thallus pale yellowish fawn, conspicuously areolate, surface smooth and dull, without isidia or soredia. Apothecia in pore-like verrucae, numerous, conspicuous, often confluent, flattened-hemispherical to immersed, 0.5–1 mm diam.; ostioles conspicuous, black, 1 per verruca, 0.1–0.4 mm diam., sometimes with a pale-grey translucent margin. Ascospores 2 per ascus (rarely 3), ellipsoidal, smooth (70–)85–110(–132) × 35–45 μm.
Chemistry: K−, KC+ weak yellow, C−, Pd−; containing thiophaninic acid (major) with 2-chloro-6-O-methylnorlichexanthone (tr.) and 4-chloro-6-O-methylnorlichexanthone (tr.).
Similar taxa
Pertusaria melaleucoides is similar but lacks thiophaninic acid and never has 3-spored asci.
Substrate
Corticolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (16 June 2023). Information in the 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.