Metus conglomeratus
≡Pilophoron conglomeratum F.Wilson, Vict. Nat. 6: 68 (1889).
=Pilophoron cariosum Hue, Nouv. Archs Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, sér. 3, 10: 280 (1898).
Pilophoron cariosum. Holotype: New Zealand. Sine loco, ad ligna vetusta, W.T.L. Travers s.n. – PC-HUE.
Description : Flora (1985: 398 – as Pilophorus conglomeratus). See also Galloway & James (1987: 567–568) and Kantvilas (1992a: 143).
Chemistry : Caperatic acid ±atranorin (tr.). Australian populations contain protolichesterinic and lichesterinic acids and atranorin (tr.).
N: Northland (Waipoua Forest, Little Barrier I., Tangihua Forest), South Auckland (Motutapere, Kauaeranga Gorge, Te Aroha, Pirongia, Pureora), Gisborne (Lake Waikareiti) to Wellington (Akatarawa Ra.). S: Nelson (Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoroa, Springs Junction), Marlborough (Resolution Bay), Westland (Kelly Ra.), Canterbury (Arthur's Pass, Peel Forest), Otago (Rees Valley, Routeburn Valley) to Southland (Cascade Creek, Eglinton Valley). St: (Glory Cove, Pegasus Creek). Throughout, in shaded, undisturbed humid forest habitats; especially common in Nothofagus forest close to the Main Divide in South I. On trunks (often overgrowing bryophytes) and branches of a range of phorophytes (Galloway & James 1987: 564), and on rotting stumps and fern rhizomes and fronds. Also in Tasmania and Victoria (Galloway & James 1987: 658–569; Kantvilas 1992a: 144; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Australasian
Illustrations : Galloway & James (1987: 565, fig. 2; 567, fig. 3); Flora of Australia 54 : 216, fig. 59 (1992); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 89); McCarthy (2003c: front cover).
Metus conglomeratus is characterised by: the corticolous/muscicolous habit (rotting stumps, tree trunks and branches); the spreading, granular–crustose, bright emerald-green primary thallus; the prominent terete podetia covered with emerald-green thalline granules, and often longitudinally fissured exposing internal chondroid layer of thick, cartilaginous strands; and terminal, swollen, conglomerate, brown-black apothecial discs.
