Peltula euploca (Ach.) Ozenda & Clauzade
Lichen euplocus Ach., Lich. suec. Prod.: 141 (1798).
Heppia spectabilis Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 271 (1941).
Heppia spectabilis. Lectotype: New Zealand. North Auckland, Hen I., on cliff face. L.M. Cranwell ZA 24, (15.11.1933), CHR 241712!
Thallus foliose, peltate, monophyllous, attached to substrate by a central umbilicus, often in ± crowded, congested clumps, saxicolous or terricolous. Lobes undulate, shell-like, 7-15 mm wide, margins entire or slightly notched, sinuous, slightly thickened, downrolled, sorediate. Upper surface greyish olive-green or olive-brownish, smooth or scabrid, rather coriaceous, sorediate. Soralia mainly marginal but also laminal, circular, blue-grey, soredia granular, rather coarse. Lower surface smooth, pale buff to brownish-red. Umbilicus ± central, rigid, to 0.4 mm diam. Apothecia many per squamule, immersed, discs punctiform or expanded, to 0.7 mm wide, without a thalline margin. Asci with a gelatinous sheath, 100-120 × 21-27 µm containing 100 or more spores. Ascospores ellipsoid to fusiform 6-7.6 × 3-4.5 µm. Pycnidia immersed, minute, black. Conidia fusiform 3.4 × 1.5 µm.
N: North Auckland (Hen I.). S: Marlborough, Mackenzie Country, Central Otago. St: (Deceit Peaks). On rocks, cliff faces or dry soil, coastal and inland in arid regions. In habitats exposed to full sun as well as in partly shaded sites subject to intermittent water flow.
Cosmopolitan
