Megalospora knightii
Holotype: New Zealand. Northland, Orewa, on Pseudopanax crassifolius, 16.vii.1981, J.K. Bartlett 16638a – U. Isotype – AK.
Description : Flora (1985: 268).
Chemistry : K−, C−, KC+ yellow, Pd−; containing usnic acid and zeorin.
N: Northland (Herekino) to Wellington, Mainly lowland and coastal in forest remnants. On Agathis australis, Cordyline australis, Myrsine australis, Phyllocladus trichomanoides, Prumnopitys ferruginea and Pseudopanax crassifolius, 100–500 m.
Endemic
Megalospora knightii differs from all other species of Megalospora with 1-septate ascospores, by the broad layer of coarse crystals in the epithecium reacting K+ yellow. It differs from M. subtuberculosa in the warted–papillate thallus, and from M. campylospora in the absence of pannarin. It has 1-septate ascospores, 2–6 per ascus, 42–60 × 25–37 μm.
