Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Protoblastenia rupestris (Scop.) J.Steiner [=Lichen rupestris Scop.]

Description : Flora (1985: 418). See also Kainz & Rambold (2004a: 288).

Protoblastenia is a cosmopolitan genus of 30 species (Kainz & Rambold 2004a; Kainz 2004b), and is included in the family Psoraceae (Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005). Protoblastenia seems closely related to Psora (Timdal 1987) and a few species (e.g. Protoblastenia terricola (Anzi) Lynge) are slightly lobate. However, Protoblastenia differs from Psora in two important characters: (1) poorly developed upper cortex and (2) absence of calcium oxalate in the hypothecium. This correlation between a well-developed squamiform thallus and calcium oxalate in the hypothecium on one hand, and a crustose to ±lobate thallus lacking calcium oxalate in the hypothecium on the other, appears to be sufficient evidence for maintaining Psora and Protoblastenia as distinct genera (Timdal 1987: 244). A recent phylogenetic stidy of the European taxa (Kainz & Rambold 2004a) contains much useful information. Species of Protoblastenia are characterised by: the presence of anthraquinones (K+ purple) in the apothecia; the more or less convex shape of the orange, reddish or brownish apothecial discs; ascis with an apical amyloid (I+ blue) tube structure; and hyaline, simple ascospores. One species is recorded from New Zealand, but the genus is still very poorly understood and collected here.