Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Sphaerophorus murrayi Ohlsson in L. Tibell, Nord. J. Bot. 1: 335 (1981).

Holotype: New Zealand. Westland, 15 km W of Turiwhate, 1971, R.C. Harris 6343 – MSC.

Description : Flora (1985: 533–534 – as Sphaerophorus murrayi). See also Tibell (1987: 236–238), Wedin (1995b: 64–67; 2001a: 8).

Chemistry : Medulla K−, Pd+ red; containing protocetraric acid (major), ascomatic acid (major in apothecia, tr. in thallus), patagonic acid (tr.), methyl ascomatate (tr.), 7- O- methylnorascomatic acid (tr.). Sphaerophorin absent (Wedin 1995b, 2001a: 9).

N: Northland (Waima State Forest Park) to Wellington (Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson (Lake Rotoroa) to Southland (Pourakino Valley). St: A: Also in E Australia and Tasmania – not present in the palaeotropics (Wedin 1995b. 2001a: 9; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Australasian

Exsiccati : Moberg (1996: No. 161).

Illustrations : Tibell (1987: 236, fig. 176 – as Sphaerophorus murrayi); Wedin (1995b: 65, fig. 28A–C); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 39); Flora of Australia58A (2001: xii, pl. 7).

Bunodophoron murrayi belongs to a critical complex of morphologically similar taxa, where it, together with B. insigne, is one of the most widespread and common species. Recognised in the field as a corticolous species with rather crowded, imbricate fertile branches, a branching pattern with abundant flattened lateral branchlets (±palmate), and prominent mazedia that are exposed very early in development. The apothecial margin is typically fringed with abundant branchlets that vary from short to long. It also lacks protocetraric acid and sphaerophorin. See also under B. flaccidum and B. insigne.