Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Trypethelium madreporiforme Eschw., Syst. Lich.: 24 (1824).

Description : Thallus smooth, glossy, creamish, smooth, in spreading patches (2–)5–8 cm diam. Perithecia in raised, hemispherical to somewhat flattened, brown-black to black, densely carbonised verrucae, (0.5–)1–2 mm diam. Ostioles prominent, orange-brown, 1–3 per verruca. Ascospores 8 per ascus, ovoid, colourless to pale-brown, submuriform, (4–)7–9(–11) × 1–3-septate, (30–)34 –46 × (10–)13.5–16.5 μm.

N: Wellington (Wainuiomata). On smooth bark, first collected in New Zealand, John Buchanan (139), viii.1873. Known also from Burma, India, Florida, Central and South America (Letrouit-Galinou 1957; Upreti & Singh 1987a; Makhija & Patwardhan 1988; Harris 1995).

Pantropical

Illustrations : Letrouit-Galinou (1957: pl. IX B); Upreti & Singh (1987a: 373, fig. 1E; 379, fig. 3I−J); Makhija & Patwardhan (1988: 568, fig. 6).

Laurera madreporiformis is characterised by: the corticolous habit; polycarpic pseudostromata; and colourless to pale-brown, ovoid, submuriform ascospores, (4–)7–9(–11) × 1–3 -septate, (30–)34 –46 × (10–)13.5–16.5 μm. It is placed in the genus Bathelium Ach. by Harris (1995: 115–118). Further collections are needed to determine the correct generic placement of New Zealand material.