Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen humilis With., Bot. Arr. Veg. Gr. Brit.: 721 (1776).

Description : Basal squamules persistent, conspicuous, 1–2 × 1–5 mm, rounded, lobed, margins slightly crenate, green above, white below, without soredia. Podetia growing from the upper surface of basal squamules, simple, scyphose, lacking marginal or central proliferations, 5–20 mm tall, scyphi 3–6 mm diam., the podetial stalk corticate, the cortex areolate at base becoming subverrucose, rarely minutely squamulose at base; scyphi ecorticate, farinose-sorediate, the interior of the cup closed and farinose-sorediate, margins entire or minutely denticulate. Apothecia and pycnidia not seen.

Chemistry : K− or K+ weak yellow, C−. KC−, Pd+ red; containing fumarprotocetraric acid (major) and atranorin.

N: Northland (Three Kings Is), Wellington (Palmerston North, Ruapehu). S: Canterbury (Arthur's Pass), Otago (Waikerikeri Valley Clyde, Conroy's Dam, Abbott's Hill, Taieri Mouth). On soil in alpine scrub, clay banks. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Asia, Africa and Australia (Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Eslinger & Egan 1995; Ahti & Hammer 2002; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Laundon (1984: 220, fig. 6); Archer (1989: 3, fig. 2); Wirth (1995: 305F); Dobson (2000: 129; 2005: 140).

Cladonia humilis is characterised by: the short, simple, broad, partly corticate, floury-sorediate cups; and the presence of atranorin.