Flora of New Zealand Series

Lichen fuliginosus Dickson, Fasc. pl. cryptog. brit. 1: 13 (1785).

Thallus monophyllous, often deeply indented and appearing polyphyllous, attached by a single rather deformed umbilicus, 2-8(-12) cm diam., corticolous, occasionally saxicolous. Lobes undulate, folded or ± free, margins entire. Upper surface ± shallowly faveolate-wrinkled or pitted, dark brown-grey or bluish- brown when wet, sometimes ± blackened, pale bluish-grey when dry, often also with white maculae (×10 lens), isidiate. Isidia scattered, terete, simple or coralloid, often ± delicately stalked, very delicate and friable, sometimes in clusters. Lower surface ± uniformly tomentose, pale brown at margins, darker centrally. Cyphellae large, white, round to irregular, 1-2 mm diam. Apothecia not seen.

N: Three Kings Is, to Wellington. S: Nelson to Southland. Very widely distributed in warm, humid habitats, often on successional shrubs (especially Leptospermum) in humid gullies or on rock faces, mainly lowland, s.l. to 1000 m. With a characteristic fishy smell when wet.

Cosmopolitan

S. fuliginosa is a very widely distributed lichen being known from most major land masses of the world. It is distinguished by the broad, monophyllous lobes which are dark brownish-grey, bluish or blackened, with numerous clusters of delicate isidia on the upper surface.