Xanthoparmelia verisidiosa
Synonyms
Neofuscelia verisidiosa, Parmelia verisidiosa
Family
Parmeliaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Foliose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: Inc, SO
Brief description
Characterised by the loosely adnate to adnate thallus, the black lower surface, and medullary alectoronic and α-collatolic acids.
Distribution
North Island: Auckland (Rangitoto Island, Cuvier Island). South Island: Otago (Trotter’s Gorge, Maungatua). Recently observed on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula (Knight 2019a,b).
Austral. Known also from South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Australia (Esslinger 1977b: 153–154; Elix 1994k: 84, 2003; Becker 2002; Kantvilas et al. 2002; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Habitat
Coastal and subalpine, on rock.
Detailed description
Thallus appressed to somewhat pulvinate, moderately to loosely adnate, 2-7 cm diam., saxicolous. Lobes 0.4-3 mm broad., flat, short and rounded to elongate, contiguous to imbricate. Upper surface yellowish to reddish-brown or dark brown, paler and yellower at apices, smooth to strongly pitted at apices, smooth to weakly wrinkled centrally, dull throughout or shining at apices which are sometimes also pruinose, sparsely to densely isidiate. Isidia cylindrical, simple or branched, 0.2-1 mm tall. Lower surface black, ± smooth, dull, moderately to sparsely rhizinate. Rhizines concolorous with lower surface, to 0.4 mm long. Apothecia infrequent, sessile, ± concave, to 5.5 mm diam., margins soon isidiate. Ascospores ellipsoid, 8-12.5 × 4.5-6 µm. Pycnidia rare. Conidia bifusiform, 5.6 × 1 µm.
Chemistry: Cortex K−, HNO3+ dark blue-green; medulla K−, C−, KC+ rose-red, Pd−, UV+ blue-white; containing alectoronic and α-collatolic acids.
Similar taxa
Xanthoparmelia verisidiosa is similar to X. loxodella, but distinguished by the strong UV+ reaction.
Substrate
Saxicolous
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Melissa Hutchison (16 June 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.
Knight A. 2019a: iNaturalist observation. https://inaturalist.nz/observations/24472718. Date accessed: 16 June 2023.
Knight A. 2019b: iNaturalist observation. https://inaturalist.nz/observations/24486079. Date accessed: 16 June 2023.