Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia suberadicata des Abb., Mém. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, sér. B, Biol. Veg. 10: 89 (1961).

Description : Thallus loosely adnate on rock, 4–7 cm diam. Lobes moderately imbricate, plane, linear-elongate, dichotomously branched, not constricted at branch nodes, 0.5–1(–1.5) mm wide, apices subascendent, exposing lower surface. Upper surface yellow-green, darkening with age, glossy to matt, emaculate, smooth, without isidia or soredia; lobe margins conspicuously blackened. Lower surface glossy, wrinkled, black, rhizinate. Rhizines sparse or absent, simple, robust, black. Apothecia not seen. Pycnidia common. Conidia bifusiform, 5–6 × 0.5 μm.

Chemistry : Cortex K−; medulla K+ yellow, C−, Pd+ orange; containing usnic, stictic (major), constictic, cryptostictic (tr.) and ±norstictic acids.

S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.), Canterbury, Otago. On subalpine to alpine rocks. Known also from Australia (Victoria), Madagascar and South Africa (Elix et al. 1986b: 329; Elix 1994s: 290; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Cosmopolitan

Illustration : Abbayes (1961: 90, fig. 1 – as Parmelia suberadicata).

Xanthoparmelia suberadicata is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; narrow, linear-elongate lobes; a glossy, jet-black lower surface; and stictic acid in the medulla.