Neuropogon acromelanus (Stirt.) I.M.Lamb
Usnea acromelana Stirton, T.N.Z.I. 30: 388 (1898).
Holotype: New Zealand. Canterbury, Selwyn Gorge, on trees [most probably an error since no species of Neuropogon are corticolous]. T.W.N. Beckett L11, BM!
Thallus rather straggling, tufted, to 9 cm tall. Branches 1-2 mm wide at base, becoming thinner and more densely branching, entangled towards apices. Surface yellow to yellow-green at base, continuous, smooth, waxy or shining, often wrinkled or faveolate in large specimens, bluish-black with black cracks towards apices. Soredia common, especially towards tips of branches, in concave-eroded soralia which may become convex and often confluent, soredia grandular, yellow to blackened. Apothecia very rare, disc black, ray-like branchlets absent, thalline exciple smooth. Chemistry: Norstictic, protocetraric (tr.). Salazinic and usnic acids.
S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.) mainly east of the Main Divide to Southland (West Dome). St: (Mt Anglem). On rock outcrops and in fellfield, 550-2800 m.
Australasian
N. acromelanus is the most common and widespread sorediate species of Neuropogon in New Zealand. It is distinguished from N. antarcticus and N. sulphureus in the nature and density of the soralia, the smooth non-papillate surface, and in chemical constituents. It is the sorediate counterpart of N. ciliatus and has a similar distribution.
