Flora of New Zealand Series

T. colensoi (Church. Bab.) G. Schneider, Biblthca lich. 13: 146 (1980).

Biatora colensoi Church. Bab., Fl. N.Z. 2: 298 (1855).

Holotype (fide Schneider loc. cit., p. 146): New Zealand. Sine loco (North Island). W. Colenso, BM! Isotype in WELT.

Thallus squamulose to small-foliose, squamules 1.5-2 mm diam., convex, orbicular to spreading, imbricate, ascending lobate, in patches to 8 cm diam., corticolous, lignicolous or terricolous. Upper surface glaucous-green to pale or whitish, smooth, matt, pruinose, occasionally sorediate, soralia marginal, labriform, soredia pale greenish, farinose. Lower cortex orange-brown or yellowish. Apothecia glaucous-brown to purplish-black, confluent, convex, immarginate. Ascospores ellipsoid, 11-14 × 5-7 µm. Chemistry: Cortex C+ pinkish-red. Gyrophoric acid and 4 unidentified pigments.

N: Ruahine Ra. to Wellington. S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.) to Southland (Longwood Ra.). St. On soil, or decaying stumps, or dead tussock bases, in mainly subalpine habitats, although it is often found also in beech forest.

Endemic

T. colensoi is readily recognised by its squamulose thallus, the squamules greenish above and orange-brown or yellowish below, and the purplish-black, confluent fruits.