Flora of New Zealand Series

Growing on other species of Caliciales or on free-living colonies of algae or possibly saprophytically on lignum. Apothecia sessile to subsessile, very variable in size and shape, short cylindrical to obconical or ± distinctly stalked, 0.13-0.36 mm high and 0.16-0.44 mm diam. Mazaedium only moderately protruding beyond edge of apothecium. Paraphyses sclerotized, persisting in mazaedium. Excipulum in outer part dark brown, consisting of ± reticulately arranged, thick-walled cells. Innermost part of excipulum ± yellow to yellowish-brown. Asci when mature, 1-septate, narrowly ellipsoid to cylindrical, 8.9-11.1 × 2.8-3.4 µm, with distinct ornamentation of spirally-arranged ridges. Pycnidia 0.04-0.06 mm in diam. Conidia narrowly ellipsoid, 2-3 × 1 µm. Chemistry: Apparently the same aeruginose pigment in the apothecia and spores as in the other species of the genus. This pigment reacts K+ pale brown and reverts to intense green when excess acid is added, but parts of the excipulum remain yellowish-brown also in dilute nitric acid. Structure of the pigment not known.

N: Gisborne. S: Nelson, Canterbury, Otago. Rather rare and known from a few localities only. On lignum of Nothofagus in shaded and rather humid situations, 150-900 m.

Austral

Known also from southern Chile and Tasmania.