Nephroma lyallii C.Bab.
N. lyallii f. isidiatum Murray, T.R.S.N.Z. (Bot.) 88: 387 (1960).
Lectotype: New Zealand, North I. Sine loco. W. Colenso 4888, BM.
Thallus lobate, spreading, to 8 cm diam., loosely attached, fragile, corticolous. Upper surface blue or brown or variegated, smooth, wrinkled or folded, margins lacerate to proliferate, occasionally phyllidiate. Phyllidia squamiform, dissected and sometimes proliferating, marginal or along laminal cracks. Lower surface brownish-tomentose, pale and glabrous towards margins. Apothecia very pale brown to reddish, ± reniform with a 1 mm wide, entire thalline margin. Ascospores colourless to pale reddish-brown, 1-septate, 16-18 × 4-6 µm. Chemistry: Nil.
N: South Auckland (King Country), Wellington (Tiritea, Palmerston North). S: Westland (Franz Josef), Otago (Leith Valley, Green Island), Southland (Wilmot Pass, Fiordland, Forest Hill, Invercargill, Waihopai Reserve). St: (Oban). On twigs in damp, shady, humid situations although nowhere is it common.
Endemic
N. lyallii is separated from other species of Nephroma in New Zealand having a blue-green photobiont, by its 1-septate spores, negative chemistry, and pale blue-grey rather ragged upper surface. It appears related to the Chilean species N. plumbeum (Mont.) Mont. It is still very much undercollected in New Zealand.
