Parmotrema cristiferum
≡Parmelia cristifera Taylor, Lond. J. Bot. 6: 165 (1847).
Description : Flora (1985: 357–358).
Chemistry : Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow→dark-red, C−, Pd+ orange-red; containing atranorin, chloroatranorin, salazinic acid (major), and ±consalzinic acid (minor).
N: Northland to Wellington (Hutt Valley). S: Marlborough, Canterbury (Amberley Beach, Kelsey's Bush, Waimate), Otago (Oamaru, Saddle Hill, Black Head, Dunedin). On bark and rock Most common N of Taupo in coastal habitats but also reaching considerable size in northern forests on Nothofagus and Agathis. A common and widespread tropical epiphyte (Louwhoff & Elix 2002b; Nash & Elix 2002g; Wolseley et al. 2002; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Pantropical
Illustrations : Krog & Swinscow (1981: 174, fig. 5 – as Parmelia cristifera); Louwhoff & Elix (1999: 41, fig. 11); Brodo et al. (2001: 495, pl. 576).
Parmotrema cristiferum is characterised by: the corticolous/saxicolous habit; its large, grey-white thallus; abundant, linear, rather sinuous marginal soralia; an absence of marginal cilia; and the presence of salazinic acid in the medulla (K+ yellow→red).
