Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Sphaerophorus cuneatus (Stirt.) Js.Murray, Trans. Roy. Soc. N. Z. 88: 186 (1960).

≡Calycidiomyces cuneatus (Stirt.) Cif. & Tomas., Ist. Bot. Univ. Lab. Crittog. Pavia Atti ser. 5, 10 (1): 66 (1953). nom. illegit.

Lectotype: New Zealand. Chatham Islands, sine loco, [H.L.] Traverss.n. – BM [fide Galloway (1985a: 71)]. Paratypes: Chatham Islands, sine loco, [H.L.] Travers 13, & 30 [ex herb. J. Buchanan] – OTA 050105.

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 71); Tibell (1987: 65–67): Wedin (2002: 65).

Chemistry : K−, C−, KC−, Pd−, UV−; containing sphaerophorin and an unidentified major compound, possibly a xanthone (Wedin 2002).

N: South Auckland (Te Aroha, Pirongia), Taranaki (Mt Taranaki), Wellington (Mt Ruapehu, Rimutaka Ra.). S: Nelson (Peel Range, track from Cobb Reservoir to Lake Peel, Lake Rotoroa, Lake Rotoiti, Stockton Plateau, Lake Daniells Track Maruia Valley), Canterbury (Nina Valley S of Lewis Pass), Southland (Secretary I., Oblong Hill, Lake Hauroko, Purakino Valley). St: Port Pegasus. Ch: A: On tree bark and roots especially those of Nothofagus fusca (between buttresses), or mossy rocks in moderate to deep shade, 450–800 m.

Australasian

Exsiccati : Tibell (1982: No. 55).

Illustrations : Murray (1960a: pl. 12, fig. 1 – as Sphaerophorus cuneatus); Flora (1985: fig. 5); Tibell (1984b: 613, fig. 6B; 617, fig. 8F; 625, fig. 13B; 631, fig. 16A, B; 1987: 68, fig. 41); Kantvilas (2000a: 35, fig. 1); Wedin (2002: 66, fig. 1A).

Calycidium cuneatum is characterised by: the foliose thallus with marginal lobules or laciniae supporting several apothecia. The mazedium is also clearly brown in contrast to the black mazedium of species of Bunodophoron. It differs from Calycidium polycarpum in forming larger patches on trunks, and in having more distinctly incised lobes, which give a somewhat stiped appearance to the apothecia. Apothecia are also smaller than those of C. polycarpum, the ascospores are slightly, but significantly, smaller than in this latter species, and the chemistry of sphaerophorin as major metabolite is distinctive.