Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Thelotrema decorticans Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier1: 54 (1893).

=Thelotrema periphysatum Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss Kl. 104: 264 (1941).

Thelotrema periphysatum. Lectotype: New Zealand. Auckland, Rangitoto I., on bark of Metrosideros excelsa (pohutukawa), H.H. Allan Z102 – CHR 378078 [fide Galloway (1985a: 573)].

Description : Flora (1985: 573 – as Thelotrema decorticans).

Chemistry : TLC–; four unidentified compounds.

N: Auckland (Rangitoto I., Waitakere Ra.), Wellington (Kapiti I.). Among bryophytes on fibrous bark. Known also from Tasmania and Australia (Kantvilas & James 1991; Kantvilas et al. 1994; Filson 1996; McCarthy 2003c).

Australasian

Illustration : Frisch & Kalb (2006: 38, fig. 1C).

Topeliopsis decorticans is characterised by: the muscicolous/corticolous habit; the pale grey-white, thin, somewhat arachnoid thallus; sessile to semi-immersed Geaster- like apothecia with thick, cracked, exfoliating margins obscuring disc apart from the central pore; 8-spored asci; broadly fusiform, colourless, muriform ascospores, 35–60 × 12–20 μm; and a negative thallus chemistry. Thelotrema subdenticulatum (q.v.) is macroscopically indistinguishable but has transversely 19–26-septate ascospores.