Flora of New Zealand Series

=Pertusaria simulans Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 334 (1941) non Malme [Ark. Bot. 28A(9): 19 (1936)].

Holotype [P. simulans Zahlbr.]: New Zealand. Otago, Silver Peaks near Dunedin, on rocks in tussock grassland, x.1933, J.S. Thomson T1166 [ZA 3890] – W. Isotypes – CHR 374711, OTA 47485.

Description : Flora (1985: 378).

Chemistry : K+ yellow→red, C−, KC+ red, Pd+ orange; containing norstictic acid.

S: Otago. On subalpine rocks. Known only from the type collection.

Endemic

Pertusaria otagoana is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the chalky-white to dingy creamish, areolate thallus; verruciform apothecia; 1-spored asci; broadly ellipsoidal ascospores (170–305 × 70–95 μm, wall double, 17–21 μm thick, to 51 μm thick at ends); and the presence of norstictic acid. It is similar to P. subverrucosa but is 1-spored.