Pertusaria spilota
Family
Pertusariaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Crustose
Current conservation status
2018 | Data Deficient
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; the scattered, inconspicuous, markedly flattened verrucae; the 8-spored asci; and the absence of secondary chemistry.
Distribution
South Island: Nelson (Mt Arthur, Murchison, Matakitaki west bank road), Canterbury (North of Cass). Recently observed at Misty Peaks Reserve on Banks Peninsula (Ford 2022).
Habitat
On bark of Fuscospora menziesii and F. cliffortioides, in montane beech forest. Probably more widely distributed than records presently show.
Detailed description
Thallus off-white to pale-grey, thin, cracked or effuse, surface smooth and dull, without isidia or soredia. Apothecia verruciform, strongly flattened-hemispherical, scarcely rising above thallus surface, scattered, conspicuous, grey-black to greenish, 1–2 mm diam.; ostioles inconspicuous, black, 0.05–0.1 mm diam., 1–2 per verruca. Ascospores 8 per ascus, ellipsoidal, smooth, uniseriate, (50–)60–65(–75) × 25–30 μm.
Chemistry: TLC−, all reactions negative.
Similar taxa
It is distinct from P. albissima Müll.Arg., which also has 8-spored asci and no chemistry, but numerous, conspicuous verrucae.
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
Ford M. 2022: iNaturalist observation. https://inaturalist.nz/observations/152895869. Date accessed: 16 June 2023.
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.