Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Sphaerophorus macrocarpus Ohlsson in D.J. Galloway, N. Z. J. Bot. 21: 197 (1983).

Holotype: New Zealand. Westland, Gillespies, Cook River road between Tornado Creek and Whelan Creek. R.C. Harris 6241 – MSC.

Description : Flora (1985: 532 – as Sphaerophorus macrocarpus). See also Tibell (1987: 229) and Wedin (1995b: 59–61; 2001a: 8).

Chemistry : Medulla K+ yellow, Pd+ orange-red; containing sphaerophorin (major), 7- O -methylnorascomatic acid (submajor or minor), stictic acid (submajor or tr.), constictic acid (minor), cryptostictic acid (tr.), isousnic acid (tr.), placodiolic acid (tr.), 4- O -demethylsphaerophorin (tr.). The stictic acid complex may sometimes only be detected in apothecia or in terminal branch tips (Wedin 1992, 1995b, 2001a).

N: South Auckland (Hunua Ra.), Gisborne (Urewera National Park) to Wellington (Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson to Southland. St: A: C: In podocarp-broadleaf forest and in beech forest, lowland to montane. Also in Tasmania and southern Chile (Wedin 1995b, 2001a; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Austral

Exsiccati : Moberg (1996: No. 159); Tibell (1996a: No. 229).

Illustrations : Tibell (1987: 225, fig. 168D – as Sphaerophorus macrocarpus); Wedin (1992: 126, fig. 4; 1995b: 60, fig. 24A, B); Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 96); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 39); Malcolm & Malcolm (2000: 81); Flora of Australia58A (2001: xii, pls 5, 6).

Bunodophoron macrocarpum is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the large, globose to subglobose, flared apothecia, and the broadly flattened, subflabellate sterile branches. It is similar to B. scrobiculatum, which is generally larger, has larger spores and a different chemistry. B. scrobiculatum often has a more grey colour with a frosty pruinose tinge on younger parts of the thallus, and with supporting branches that are usually not so long and distinct.