Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Physma boryanum (Pers.) A. Massal. [=Collema boryanum Pers.]

Description : Flora (1985: 396).

Physma is a predominantly tropical genus having simple spores, and included in the family Collemataceae (Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005). Some 13 species are currently known (Hue 1906; Dughi 1946; Degelius 1955; Aptroot & Sipman 1991; Verdon 1992b; Verdon & Elix 1994). Two species occur in New Zealand in damp, shaded humid habitats. The genus needs closer study here in the light of recent research on Australian and Pacific taxa (Aptroot & Sipman 1991; Verdon & Elix 1994).