Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Sticta homoeophylla Nyl., Flora 50: 439 (1867).

≡Lobaria homoeophylla (Nyl.) Hellb., Bihang K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 21 (3/13): 39 (1896).

=Sticta amplificata Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 287 (1941).

Holotype: New Zealand. Sine loco (probably Wellington), 1867, Charles Knight – H-NYL 33464. Isotype – WELT, Herb. Knight Vol. 36A, P. 9.

Sticta amplificata. Holotype: New Zealand. North I., Wellington, Ohakune, L.B. Moore ZA 167 – W 2506. Isotype – CHR 374654.

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 446). See also Galloway (1988a: 162–164).

Chemistry : 7β-acetoxyhopan-22-ol, hopane-7β,22-diol (tr.), hopane-15α,22-diol, norstictic, stictic, cryptostictic, constictic, methylstictic, hypostictic, hyposalazinic (tr.) and usnic acids (Elix 1986).

N: South Auckland (Te Aroha, Pirongia) to Cook Strait. S: Nelson to Fiordland, also in the Catlins. St: (N coast to Mt Allen and Port Pegasus) [map in Galloway (1988a: 165, fig. 79)]. Lowland to subalpine, s.l. to 1440 m. It is mainly a rainforest species and is best developed in beech forest close to the Main Divide in South I. It is especially common both as an epiphyte and as a forest floor species where it competes successfully with bryophytes (in some areas it may form extensive swards) in mid-altitude forests (200–600 m), and in areas dominated by Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides it is the dominant epiphyte up to treeline.

Endemic

Exsiccati : Vězda (1985: No. 2070; 1988: No. 2268; 1997b: No. 274); Elix (1986: No. 120).

Illustrations : Martin & Child (1972: 131, plate 37; 133, plate 38 – as Pseudocyphellaria freycinetii); Galloway (1988a: 163, fig. 78); Malcolm & Malcolm (1989: 94, 95; 2000: 2, 34; 2001: 55); Lange (1992: 46); Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 38, 67, 103, 107, 116, 135, 145, 157, 162, 164, 171); Hutching (1998: 202).

Pseudocyphellaria homoeophylla is characterised by: di- or trichotomously branching, linear-laciniate lobes with entire, sinuous margins and without isidia, maculae, phyllidia, pseudocyphellae or soredia; a glabrous, smooth to shallowly wrinkled or pitted upper surface that is distinctly coriaceous; a white medulla; a green photobiont; a red-brown to black lower surface with rather patchy tomentum and numerous, conspicuous white pseudocyphellae; mainly marginal apothecia with a coarsely scabrid, stellate-fimbriate, pinkish exciple; and a chemistry of hopane triterpenoids, stictic acid metabolites and usnic acid that gives the thallus a greenish yellow tinge. It may be parasitised by the lichenicolous fungi * Arthonia maculiformis, * A. pseudocyphellariae, * Plectocarpon concentricum, * P. opegraphoideum and * Stigmidium schaereri (q.v.).