Flora of New Zealand Series

M. zopheroa (Essl.) O.Blanco, A.Crespo, Divakar, Essl., D.Hawksw. & Lumbsch, Mycol. Res. 108 (8): 883 (2004).

≡Parmelia zopheroa Essl., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 42: 96 (1977).

≡Melanelia zopheroa (Essl.) Essl., Essl., Mycotaxon 7: 49 (1978).

Description : Flora (1985: 272 – as Melanelia zopheroa).

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

S: Canterbury (Gapes Valley, Waipara, Godley Valley, Cass), Otago (St Bathans Ra., Becks). Mainly E of the Main Divide on twigs of divaricating shrubs (Discaria, Melicytus) in subalpine grasslands. Also in Chile (Esslinger 1977b; Galloway & Quilhot 1999).

Austral

Illustration : Esslinger (1977: 191, plate XXI, fig. 92 – as Parmelia zopheroa).

Melanohalea zopheroa is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the olive-green to dark-brown thalli with laminal, white pseudocyphellae; commonly developed apothecia; and no medullary chemistry. The presumed fertile counterpart of the sorediate species M. inactiva.