Parmeliella granulata
Description : Thallus subfoliose to subsquamulose, laciniate, irregularly spreading, ±flat, to 5 cm wide, loosely attached, without isidia. Lobes to 8 mm long and to 2 mm wide, irregularly branched, rounded and lobate–crenate, ± discrete at margins, ± imbricate centrally and forming a continuous to uneven crust, rather thick and rigid. Upper surface distinctly scabrid (×10 lens), especially towards margins, grey-buff. Lower surface densely rhizinate from margins to centre, rhizohyphae pale-whitish to greenish black, felted, often projecting at margins. Apothecia numerous in central parts of thallus to sparse or absent, sessile, rounded 0.5–1 mm diam.; disc brown or brown-black, plane at first and with a distinct pale proper exciple, becoming convex and immarginate with age. Hymenium persistently I+ dark-blue. Ascospores ellipsoidal, wall thin, smooth, 12–15 × 5.5–7 μm.
Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.
N: South Auckland (Hihitahi State Forest, between Tokaanu and Lake Rotoaira). S: Known also from Tasmania and southern South America (Lamb 1955; Galloway & Quilhot 1999; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Austral
Illustrations : Lamb (1955: 430, fig. 6); Jørgensen & Galloway (1992b: 273, fig. 95D); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 102).
Parmeliella granulata is characterised by: the corticolous habit; and the rather thick, rounded, lobate-crenate lobes that are distinctively scabrid towards the apices. It is similar to P. gymnocheila, but lacks soredia.
