Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Gymnocaulon gregarium (Redinger) P.A.Duvign., Lejeunia, Rev. Bot. Mem. 14: 14 (1956).

Holotype: New Zealand. Otago, Flagstaff Hill, 700 m on schist, J.S. Thomson T894 [149 – ex Herbarium of the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North, New Zealand] – W 1962. Isotypes – CHR 559058A, 559058B, 559058C; OTA.

Description : Flora (1985: 547).

Chemistry : Atranorin and protocetraric acid, with fumarprotocetraric, perlatolic, colensoinic and anziaic acids as inconstant accessory compounds.

N: Taranaki (Mt Taranaki), Wellington (Mt Ruapehu, Ruahine Ra., Tararua Ra.). S: Marlborough (Mt Stokes), Westland (Alec's Knob), Canterbury (Arthur's Pass, Torlesse Ra.), Otago (West Matukituki Valley, Stoneburn, Swampy Summit, Flagstaff, Abbott's Hill, Maugatua), Southland (McKinnon Pass, Secretary I., Mt Hodges, Dusky Sound, Borland Lodge). St: (Mt Allen, Magog, Smith's Lookout). On exposed rocks in subalpine to alpine grassland. Known also from alpine habitats in Tasmania (Kantvilas 1996b; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Australasian

Illustrations : Redinger (1936b: 137, fig. 3); Jahns (1970: 149, fig. 83); Martin & Child (1972: 161); Galloway (1980b: 277, fig. 16).

Stereocaulon gregarium is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; dwarf, simple, or bifurcating at apices, terete, corticate, finger-like podetia (fertile podetia commonly being taller than sterile podetia); the matt, wrinkled-verrucose grey-white cortex; the pale yellowish brown basal cephalodia; convex, immarginate apothecia, pale-yellowish or colourless hypothecium; 6–10-septate ascospores, 48–68 × 5–6 μm; and a chemistry of atranorin and protocetraric acid, with fumarprotocetraric, perlatolic, colensoinic and anziaic acids as inconstant accessory compounds.