Flora of New Zealand Series

Thallus of prostrate, terete, hollow, worm-like stems, simple or forked, 1-4 cm long. Surface smooth, matt, white or greyish-white, becoming pinkish on storage. Chemistry: Medulla K+ yellow, C-, KC-, Pd+ orange. Thamnolic acid (UV-).

N: Raukumara Ra., Kaimanawa Ra., Ruahine Ra., Tararua Ra. S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.) to Southland (Fiordland). St: (Mt Anglem). On soil, among mosses, or grass in alpine and subalpine grassland, herbfield and fellfield.

Cosmopolitan

It is more common in the Southern Hemisphere than  var. subuliformis and Sato [ Bryologist 68: 324 (1965)] claims that almost all populations of Thamnolia in New Zealand are var. vermicularis. In New Zealand it has an altitudinal range from 600 m (Ahuriri Valley) to 3000 m (Mt Aspiring). It is most richly developed in the mountains of eastern South I., from the Torlesse Ra. to Maungatua.