Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Psoroma athroophyllum Stirt., Rep. Trans. Glasgow Soc. Field Nat. 1: 21 (1873).

≡Psoroma subpruinosum var. athroophyllum (Stirt.) C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 7: 365 (1875).

Lectotype: New Zealand. On bark of trees, Tinakori Hills, Wellington, J. Buchanan 45 – GLAM [fide Galloway (1985a: 470)]. Isolectotype – WELT. Paratype: Ibid., J. Buchanan 225 – WELT.

Description : Flora (1985: 469–470 – as Psoroma athroophyllum).

Chemistry : Leprolomin, vicanicin and isovicanicin. Two chemodemes are present: (1) leprolomin and vicanicin (the most common); (2) leprolomin and isovicanicin (Elix et al. 1982: 2327).

N: South Auckland (Lake Rotoehu, Lake Rotoiti), Wellington (Whakapapa, Waikanae, Wellington). S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.), Westland (Greymouth, Taramakau River), Canterbury (Waihi Gorge), Otago (Stoneburn, Trotter's Gorge, Mt Watkin, Silver Peaks, Mt Cargill, Flagstaff, Otakou Bush, Maungatua, Taieri Mouth, Akatore, Kaka Point), Southland (Resolution I., Goose Cove, Dusky Sound, Cascade Creek, Grove Bush, Forest Hill, Onawe Bush near Bluff). St: (Fern Gully, Anchorage I., Port Pegasus). Ch: A: (Terror Cove) C: (Tucker Cove). On bark of trees and shrubs in forest and scrub on the following phorophytes: Dracophyllum, Griselinia littoralis, Podocarpus hallii, Rubus australis. Also on rocks in humid, lowland forest habitats.

Endemic

Pannaria athroophyllum is characterised by: the corticolous (rarely saxicolous) habit; irregularly branched marginal lobes; numerous, ascending phyllidia in central parts (often covering the whole thallus); large apothecia with densely phyllidiate margins; and a chemistry including leprolomin (Elvebakk & Galloway 2003). It has a green alga as major photobiont, and vicanicin as a major secondary compound. Zahlbruckner's name Phloeopannaria athrophylla [sic] (Zahlbruckner 1941: 276), based on Stirton's name Psoroma athroophyllum, the type of which he had not seen, refers to Psoroma buchananii (q.v.).