Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmeliella neozelandica (C.W.Dodge) D.J.Galloway & P.James, Lichenologist 16 (1): 90 (1984).

≡Degelia neozelandica (C.W.Dodge) P.M.Jørg. & D.J.Galloway Fl. Australia 54 : 314 (1992). 

Holotype: New Zealand. Canterbury, Woolshed Hill, growing over mosses on rock in scree field, ii.1958, L. Visch 78 – FH. Isotypes – BM, CANU [Galloway & James (1984: 90) chose material from CANU as lectotype; however, original material seen and annotated by Carroll Dodge is present in FH and is the holotype – the FH specimen therefore takes precedence over the CANU and BM material, which become isotypes, as all are part of Max Visch's original 1958 collection].

Description : Flora (1985: 348 – as Parmeliella neozelandica).

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

N: Wellington (Mt Alpha, Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson-Marlborough (Mt Fyffe), Canterbury (Arthur's Pass, Cass), Otago (St Bathans Ra., Old Man Ra., Whitecoomb Ra., Poolburn Reservoir, Lammerlaw Ra.). On alpine–subalpine soils growing among mosses (Grimmia, Rhacomitrium, etc.) in alpine to high-alpine grasslands and fellfield, 900–2200 m. Known also from a single alpine locality in Tasmania (Jørgensen & Galloway 1992b: 252).

Australasian

Illustration : Jørgensen & Galloway (1992b: 251, fig. 90C – as Degelia neozelandica).

Steinera neozelandica is distinguished from the corticolous taxa Coccocarpia erythroxyli and Degelia gayana by differences in habitat and morphology. The latter two species are mainly corticolous, lowland (often coastal) to montane, whereas S. neozeloandica is subalpine to high-alpine and terricolous/muscicolous. It also lacks rhizines on the lower surface, whereas the other two are always conspicuously rhizinate. The proper margin in apothecia of S. neozelandica is concolorous with the disc or darker and is never furnished with short, white hairs below, whereas the proper margin of Degelia gayana is usually much paler than the disc, and that of Coccocarpia erythroxyli is entirely excluded except at a very early stage when it is also much paler than the disc; both the last two species often have short, white hairs projecting from the base of the apothecia.