Neuropogon sulphureus (J.König) Hellb.
Usnea sulphurea Koenig in Olfasen and Povelsen, Reise igion. Island App.: 16 (1772).
Thallus fruticose, erect, tufted, rather small and delicate, 1-3.5 cm tall. Branches 1-1.5 mm wide at base, tapering towards apices, weakly dichotomously branching. Surface pale yellow at base and for 1-1.5 cm, blackened or banded black and yellow above, annulate-cracked and sometimes ± jointed, smooth, waxy, glossy, not or very rarely faveolate, rarely minutely papillate, sorediate. Soralia round to ± irregular, 0.01-0.5 mm wide, ± completely eroding, papillate at first, becoming convex-pulvinate-eroded, soredia fine, granular, not easily dispersed, blackened. Medulla very lax. Chondroid axis narrow 073-063 diam. of branch. Apothecia not seen. Chemistry: Cortex K-; medulla K-, C-, KC-, Pd-. Usnic acid.
S: N.W. Nelson (mountains above Lake Cobb, 1600 m), Otago, Mt Aspiring (north-west, north-east and Coxcomb ridges), Mt Avalanche, Mt Sir William. On rock outcrops on exposed ridges and faces, 2800-3170 m.
Bipolar
N. sulphureus is genuinely rare in New Zealand, being mainly restricted to a few high alpine sites in Otago, mainly east of, or close to, the Main Divide. It has been recorded from the highest altitude for any species of Neuropogon in New Zealand. The very lax medulla is characteristic.
