Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Heterodermia speciosa (Wulfen) Trevis. [=Lichen speciosus Wulfen]

Description : Flora (1985: 182–183). See also Moberg & Nash (2002: 207).

Heterodermia is a cosmopolitan genus of c. 93 species included in the family Physciaceae nom. cons. (Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005) and commonly developed in warm temperate to subtropical and tropical regions of the world with most taxa occurring in the Southern Hemisphere (Swinscow & Krog 1976b, 1988; Kashiwadani et al. 1990; Moberg & Purvis 1997). European and Macaronesian species are discussed by Moberg & Purvis (1997) and by Moberg (2004a), and South African taxa by Moberg (2004b). Eleven species are found in New Zealand, with the greatest diversity occurring in northern areas (from Taranaki northwards) where they are often conspicuous on coastal rocks and trees and shrubs. Several species are also commonly found on planted trees (both native and introduced) in parks, gardens and on roadsides in urban areas in the North I. Morphology, anatomy and chemistry in the genus is discussed in Swinscow & Krog (1976b). Asci are of Lecanora -type (Rambold et al. 1994). A catalogue of current names accepted in the genus is given by Kurokawa (1998).