Physcia integrata
Description : Thallus orbicular to irregularly spreading, (1–)2–3(–4) cm diam., closely attached from margins to centre. Lobes narrow, 0.5–1 mm wide, 2–10(–15) mm long, subdichotomously to irregularly branching, discrete from apices to centre, to ±adjacent to interlaced, complex-imbricate centrally, flat to convex. Margins entire, to delicately notched or incised or here and there secondarily lobulate, without isidia or soredia. Upper surface very pale greenish white when moist, ±white to ivory-white when dry, smooth or here and there minutely lumpy, glossy to matt, epruinose, minutely white maculate (×10 lens), maculae best seen at or towards apices of lobes, without isidia or soredia. Lower surface smooth, matt to slightly glossy, dark-brown to black, sometimes with a narrow, pale marginal zone, rhizinate. Rhizines numerous, entangled, squarrosely branched, brown to black, 0.4–0.8(–1) mm long. Apothecia and pycnidia not seen in New Zealand collections.
Chemistry : Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow, C−, KC−, Pd−; containing atranorin, zeorin and unidentified triterpenoids.
N: Northland (Waitiki Stream, Lady Alice I., Great Barrier I., Mahurangi River), Wellington (Kapiti I.). S: Marlborough (Motuara I.). On bark of coastal trees and scrub. Known also from East and South Africa, India, Hongkong, Central and South America, Mexico, the Pacific, and Australia (Awasthi 1960; Moberg 1986, 1990, 2001, 2002b, 2004b; Aptroot 1987; Swinscow & Krog 1988; Marcano et al. 1996; Elix & McCarthy 1998; Aptroot & Seaward 1999; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Palaeotropical
Illustration : Swinscow & Krog (1988: 229, fig. 112).
Physcia integrata is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the smooth, sometimes glossy upper surface without soredia or pruina; the black, distinctly paraplectenchymatous lower surface (often paler at or near margins); and atranorin and zeorin as secondary metabolites.
