Sphaerophorus scrobiculatus (C.Bab.) M.Satô
Sphaerophoron australe var. scrobiculatum Church. Bab., Fl. N.Z. 2: 304 (1855).
Lectotype: New Zealand. North I., Sine loco. W. Colenso, BM!
Thallus corticolous, rarely muscicolous over rocks, of one to several primary branches, at first broadly flattened, then dividing palmately into several smaller, usually fertile branches. Primary branches horizontal, to 3 cm long and 4-11 mm wide, commonly with small, irregular, marginal secondary branches. Upper surface green-grey, smooth to wrinkled, becoming ± scrobiculate towards apices especially over apothecia, lower surface white, irregularly wrinkled, particularly round base of apothecia, upper cortex 65-100 µm thick, lower cortex 40-70 µm thick. Algal layer 20-40 µm thick, continuous beneath upper cortex only. Apothecia common, 2-9 mm diam., subterminal, with broadly flaring margins, mazaedium ventral, exposed at an early stage of development, receptacle corticate, with small isidia-like structures along margins. Asci 45-55 × 5-11 µm. Ascospores spherical, grey-brown, 9-12(-13.5) µm, walls with external deposit of black, carbonaceous material. Chemistry: K+ reddish or -, Pd-. Three unidentified compounds. Sphaerophorin absent.
N: South Auckland (Mt Pirongia) to Wellington (Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson to Southland. St: A: C: On bark, decaying stumps, rarely among mosses on rocks, s.l. to 1200 m.
Austral
Characterised by the broad, flattened thallus with a ± scrobiculate surface on the sterile side of the receptacle. The chemistry is also characteristic, being the only species in the genus lacking sphaerophorin.
