Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen cechumena var. testudinea Ach., K. Sv. Vetensk. Nya Handl.: 232 (1808).

=Sporastatia nigra C.W.Dodge, Nova Hedwigia 19: 483 (1971) ["1970"].

Sporastatia nigra. Holotype: New Zealand, Canterbury, Rangitata Valley, Two Thumbs Peak, on exposed rock, 2440 m, 8.iv.1966, B.A. Fineran 3077 – CANU.

Description : Thallus delimited, in ±well-defined patches, often distinctly rosette-forming, to 4 cm diam., pale bluish grey to yellow-grey or pale brown-grey, or suffused rust-red on iron-rich substrata, matt, areolate. Areolae minute, 0.1–1 mm diam., plane to convex, angular to rounded, elongated separated by deep, black cracks and ±radiating at margins. Prothallus conspicuous at margins, black, byssoid. Apothecia 0.1–0.8(–1.0) mm diam. Epithecium 20–30 μm thick, reddish brown, olive to greenish blue. Hymenium colourless, 80–150 μm tall. Asci clavate, 60–100 × 17–25 μm, multi-spored. Ascospores ellipsoidal to subglobose, 3–6 × 2–4 μm. Pycnidia rare. Conidia bacillar, 3–6 × 1–1.5 μm.

Chemistry : Cortex and medulla K−, C+ red, KC+ red, Pd−; containing gyrophoric acid.

S: Westland (Mt Alack Ridge at Pioneer Hut, Mt Haast, summit of West Peak), Canterbury (Pyramid, above Hawdon River, Two Thumbs Ra., Malte Brun Ra., Liebig Ra.), Otago (The Remarkables, Double Cone above Lake Alta, S end Old Man Ra., Gem Lake Umbrella Mts), Southland (West Dome). On high-alpine exposed rocks, often on quartz where it is visually striking, 1330–3138 m. Commonly with species of Placopsis, species of Rhizocarpon, Rimularia psephota, Stereocaulon caespitosum and Tremolecia atrata. Sometimes thalli are parasitised by Rhizocarpon pusillum (q.v.). Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, North America, Venezuela, Bolivia, Tierra del Fuego, Marion I., South Georgia, South Shetland I., Antarctic Peninsula, Australia, and Macquarie I. (Magnusson 1936; Hertel 1971a, 1987b, 1989b; Poelt & Obermayer 1990; Coppins & Gilbert 1992; Grube & Poelt 1993; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Esslinger & Egan 1995; Filson 1996; Brodo et al. 2001; Lumbsch et al. 2001;Øvstedal & Gremmen 2001; Øvstedal & Lewis Smith 2001; Coppins 2002b; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Obermayer 2004; Ryan & Nash 2004; Santesson et al. 2004; Søchting et al. 2004).

Bipolar

Illustrations : Ozenda & Clauzade (1970: 499, fig. 415C, D); Foucard (1990: fig. 313); Hansen (1995: 116); Grube & Kroken (2000b: 1285, fig. 1); Brodo et al. (2001: 660, pl. 806); Lumbsch et al. (2001: 9).

Sporastatia testudinea is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the well-defined, rosette-forming, areolate thallus delimited by a black, marginal prothallus; multi-spored asci; small, colourless ascospores, 3–6 × 2–4 μm; and the presence of gyrophoric acid in the medulla.