Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lecidea phaeomma Nyl., Lich. Nov. Zel.: 90 (1888).

=Lecidea tabacodes Zahlbr., Cat. lich. univ. 3 (5): 835 (1925).

≡Lecidea tabacina Kremp., Verhand. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 26: 455 (1876) non Schaer.

≡Brigantiaea tabacodes (Zahlbr.) Hafellner, Lichenologist 15 (3): 264 (1983).

Holotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], 1867, Knight – H-NYL 18089. Isotype – ?WELT.

Lecidea tabacina. Holotype: Nova Zelandia, sine loco [probably Wellington], 1867, Charles Knight. H-NYL 18089. Isotype – ?WELT.

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 42 – as Brigantiaea tabacodes); Hafellner (1997: 61).

N: Northland (Pandora, Radar Bush, Herekino, Hokianga, Mt Misery, Bay of Islands, Little Barrier I., Great Barrier I.), South Auckland (Te Aroha, Kaimai Ra., Kuratau, Mamaku, Mt Pureora, Moerangi), Taranaki (Whangamomona), Wellington. S: Nelson (Springs Junction), Marlborough (Ship Cove), Westland (Fox Glacier), Otago (Haast Pass), to Southland (Fiordland). Among epiphytes on tree trunks (Agathis australis, Beilschmiedia tawa, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, Dacrydium cupressinum, Knightia excelsa, Leptospermum scoparium, Myrsine australis, Nothofagus fusca, N. solandri var. cliffortioides, Olearia furfuracea, Phyllocladus asplenifolius, Podocarpus hallii, Weinmannia racemosa) in lowland and coastal forest. Also in southern Queensland and southern South America in Chile and Argentina (Hafellner 1997; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Austral

Illustrations : Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 78 – as Brigantiaea tabacodes); Hafellner (1997: 63, fig. 12A).

Brigantiaea phaeomma is distinguished from B. fuscolutea by the rust-brown apothecia and the differing habitat ecology. Probably a species pair with B. lobulata, it lacks the suberect to ascending lobules of the thallus of that species. It often forms luxuriant communities to 15 cm across.