Lichenoconium lugubris
≡Psoroma lugubre C.W.Dodge, Nova Hedwigia 19 (3–4): 467 (1971) ["1970"].
=Lecanora parmelinoides Lumbsch in H.T. Lumbsch, G.B. Feige & J.A. Elix, Bot. Acta 107: 34 (1994).
Holotype: New Zealand. South I., Canterbury, Betwixt Hill, growing over mosses on soil, L. Visch B33 – FH.
Lecanora parmelinoides. Holotype: New Zealand. South I. Otago, Strachan Creek Ridge, Burke [Valley], 13.iii.1976, P. Child 1841 – CHR 444514.
Description : Thallus crustose, uniform, adnate, verrucose to verrucose–areolate or subsquamulose, whitish grey to bluish grey with or without a sparse bluish pruina. Soredia absent. Margins slightly effigurate. Prothallus not visible. Areolae 0.5–1.5 mm diam., in section to 0.8 mm thick, plane to subulate. Apothecia sessile, 0.9–3.0 mm diam., discs dark red-brown to brown-black, intense dark red-brown when wet, bluish-grey-pruinose. Apothecial margins bluish grey, thin, entire ±verrucose to crenulate. Cortex indistinct, hyaline, inspersed with small crystals, 30–50 μm laterally and 45–75 μm at base, uniform. Amphithecium with small crystals (Pol+) dissolving rapidly in K (allophana type). Parathecium hyaline, without crystals (Pol−), 10–15 μm thick. Epithecium red-brown, 10–15 μm thick, unchanged in K, with small crystals on the hymenium (Pol +), crystals rapidly dissolving in K. Hymenium hyaline, 60–80 μm tall. Hypothecium and subhymenium hyaline. Paraphyses to 2 μm thick, septate, apically ramifying and slightly thickened. Asci clavate 45–60 × 12–16 μm. Ascospores ellipsoidal 11.5–15.5 × 5.5–8.5 μm.
Chemistry : Thallus and apothecial margins K+ yellow, C+ orange, KC+ orange Pd+ yellowish orange; Major compounds: atranorin, ±chloroatranorin, ±asemone, ±5,7,-dichloro-3- O- methylnorlichexanthone, ±thiophanic acid and ±2,5,7-trichloro-3- O- methylnorlichexanthone: Minor compounds: ±chloroatranorin, arthothelin, 7-chloronorlichexanthone, 2,5-dichloronorlichexanthone, 2,7-dichloronorlichexanthone, ±5,7-dichloro-3- O- methylnorlichexanthone, 5,7-dichloronor- lichexanthone, isoarthothelin, 3- O- methylasemone, ±2,5,7-trichloro-3- O- methylnorlichexanthone, 2,5,7-trichlorolichexanthone.
N: South Auckland (Waimiha Stream near Barryville), Gisborne (Mt Hikurangi), Hawke's Bay (Mt Kaweka). S: Nelson (Mt Cobb, St Arnaud Ra.), Marlborough (Mt Fyffe), Westland (Otira Gorge), Canterbury (Mt Technical above Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Cass, Craigieburn Ra., Porter's Pass, Foggy Peak Torlesse Ra., Mt Wakefield, Mt Sebastopol, Mt Peel, Hunters Hills), Otago (Burke Valley near Haast Pass, Park Pass, Old Man Ra., Dunstan Mts, Pisa Ra., Umbrella Mts), Southland (West Dome, West Arm Manapouri, Fiordland). C: (Mt Honey). Among moss and soil in fellfield, scree, rock bluffs and alpine herbfield. Also in Australia (New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania) and Tierra del Fuego (Lumbsch 1994; Lumbsch et al. 1994b; Guderley 1999: 219; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Lumbsch & Elix 2004).
Austral
Illustrations : Lumbsch et al. (1994a: 33, fig. 1D – as Lecanora parmelinoides); Lumbsch (1994: 122, fig. 65A, B – as L. parmelinoides); Guderley (1999: 214, fig. 20F; 218, fig. 21A – as L. parmelinoides); Øvstedal & Lewis Smith (2001: 213, fig. 30 – as L. parmelinoides).
Lecanora lugubris is characterised by: the terricolous/muscicolous habit; the verrucose–areolate to subsquamulose, encrusting, whitish grey thallus; the prominent, sessile apothecia, 0.9–3 mm diam., the disc red-brown to dark-brown or brown-black, with a blue-grey pruina and, blue-grey, entire thalline exciple; ellipsoidal ascospores, 11.5–15.5 × 5.5–8.5 μm; and a chemistry dominated by xanthones (C+ orange).
