Pertusaria otagoana
Synonyms
Pertusaria simulans Zahlbr.
Family
Pertusariaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
Not Evaluated
Brief description
Characterised by the saxicolous habit; the chalky-white to dingy creamish, areolate thallus; verruciform apothecia; 1-spored asci; broadly ellipsoidal ascospores (170–305 × 70–95 μm, wall double, 17–21 μm thick, to 51 μm thick at ends); and the presence of norstictic acid.
Distribution
South Island: Otago, Southland.
Habitat
On subalpine rocks.
Detailed description
Thallus thick, chalky-white or dingy creamish, areolate-cracked, areolae angular, convex, lumpy, separated by deep or shallow cracks, 0.3-1.0 mm diam. Fertile verrucae concolorous with thallus, 1-4 mm diam., rounded to irregular, ± hemispherical, apex flattened. Apothecia 1-12 per verruca, immersed, ostiole black, punctiform impressed, 0.01-0.02 mm diam. Asci clavate 1-spored. Ascospores broadly ellipsoid, 174-304.5 × 70-95 µm, wall 17-21 µm thick, to 52 µm thick at ends, complex, double.
Chemistry: K+ yellow→red, C−, KC+ red, Pd+ orange; containing norstictic acid.
Similar taxa
It is similar to P. subverrucosa but is 1-spored.
Substrate
Saxicolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (18 February 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.