Flora of New Zealand Series

Holotype: New Zealand. Northland, North Kaipara Barrier, Tapu Bush, 36º19's, 174º04'E, 110 m, 25.v.1991, A.E. Wright 11561 – AK 202378.

Description : Thallus off-white to pale greyish white, thin, surface smooth and somewhat shining, without isidia or soredia. Apothecia disc-like, numerous, scattered or sometimes contiguous, margins thick, initially inrolled and obscuring disc, concolorous with thallus; disc black, partly white-pruinose, at first concave becoming plane with age, 0.2–0.4 mm diam. Ascospores 8 per ascus, uniseriate, spherical, 15–20 μm diam., wall thin, c. 1 μm thick.

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

N: Northland. Known only from the type collection, on bark.

Endemic

Illustration : Archer & Elix (1994: fig. 7).

Pertusaria sporellula is characterised by: the corticolous habit; disc-like apothecia; 8-spored asci; very small, spherical ascospores; and a negative chemistry.