Ramalina ovalis
Synonyms
Ramalina celastri subsp. ovalis
Family
Ramalinaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Structural class
Lichens - Fruticose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Distribution
North Island: New Plymouth, Palmeston North, Marlborough, Nelson. South Island: Canterbury, Otago, Southland.
Ramalina ovalis is common in the drier areas of the eastern South Island of New Zealand, including inland Canterbury, Otago and Southland, and also occurs, but is less commonly found, in Marlborough, Nelson, Wellington, Palmerston North and New Plymouth.
Also recorded this species (as R. celastri subsp. ovalis) from southern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania) and the higher elevation areas of Africa (Tanzania and Uganda), but African records are debated.
Habitat
This species is corticolous, and grows on a wide range of native and introduced trees and shrubs. The most common substrata in New Zealand are Carmichaelia spp. (broom), Coprosma crassifolia, Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn), Malus x domestica (apple), Prunus x domestica (plum), Salix spp. (willow), and Sophora microphylla (kowhai), and in Australia species of Acacia. In Australia it may be found growing with R. glaucescens and in New Zealand with R. glaucescens and R. inflexa.
Detailed description
Thallus corticolous, green-grey, erect, 10–50(–85) cm long; branching sparse with usually only one or a few branches making up the whole thallus; branch width 4–25 mm, flat, apices blunt or rounded, small branchlets often occurring at the apices; surface matt, occasionally having longitudinal ridges; pseudocyphellae usually present, short linear or labriform; holdfast present. Soredia absent. Apothecia laminal only, numerous; disc
04–25 mm diam., plane to convex; margin entire. Ascospores ellipsoid, mostly curved, occasionally straight, 10–16(–18) μm 4–6 mm.
Chemistry. Usnic acid. Medulla K–.
Similar taxa
Coastal, saxicolous specimens of R. celastri from northern New Zealand can be differentiated from R. ovalis by the pointed tips, marginal and laminal apothecia, multiple branches, branching along the entire thallus, and canaliculate branches. Ramalina inflexa can be distinguished from R. ovalis by its dichotomous branching, canaliculate branches and marginal and subterminal spurred apothecia. Ramalina glaucescens often co-occurs with R. ovalis in New Zealand and Australia, but can be distinguished by its chemistry (usually sekikaic and/or divaricatic acids), narrower branches, the presence of side branchlets, and generally marginal and subterminal apothecia (some thalli have some laminal apothecia, but not to the extent seen in specimens of R. ovalis).
Substrate
Corticolous.
Etymology
ramalina: Meaning small branches, twiggy.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (4 August 2022). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features, Similar Taxa and Extra information sections copied from Hayward et al. (2014).
References and further reading
Hayward, G. C., Blanchon, D. J., & Lumbsch, H. T. 2014: Molecular data support Ramalina ovalis as a distinct lineage (Ramalinaceae, Ascomycota). The Lichenologist, 46(4), 553-561.