Flora of New Zealand Series

Parmelia squamans Stizenb., Ber. Tät. St. Gall. naturwiss. Ges. 1887-88: 164 (1889).

Thallus ± appressed to subpulvinate, moderately to loosely adnate, 2-8 cm diam., saxicolous. Lobes 0.5-3 mm wide, ± flat, short and rounded to somewhat elongate, contiguous to imbricate. Upper surface red-brown to dark brown, often paler and more yellow-brown at apices, smooth to weakly wrinkled or pitted at apices, strongly wrinkled-fissured at centre, dull throughout, or subnitid at apices, occasionally pruinose, especially at apices, without isidia. Lower surface dark brown to black, sometimes pale brown at apices, ± smooth, dull, moderately or sparsely rhizinate. Rhizines concolorous with lower surface, to 1 mm long. Apothecia common, sessile to very short-pedicellate, concave to irregular, margins entire to weakly crenate or lacerate. Ascospores ellipsoid, 7-10.5 × 4.5-6 µm. Pycnidia common. Conidia weakly bifusiform 5-7 × 1 µm. Chemistry: Cortex K-, HNO3+ dark blue-green; medulla K+ yellow-red, C-, KC+ red, Pd+ orange. Four unidentified compounds related to stictic and norstictic acid.

S: Central Otago (Lindis River near Cluden, Alexandra, Coronet Peak). Alpine or subalpine on rock, occasionally on soil.

Austral