Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia tasmanica Hook.f. & Taylor, Lond. J. Bot. 3: 644 (1844).

Description : Flora (1985: 616).

Chemistry : Cortex K−; medulla K+ yellow→dark-red, C−, KC+ red, Pd+ orange; containing salazinic, consalazinic, protocetraric (tr.), rarely norstictic (tr.) and usnic acids.

N: Northland (Three Kings Is). S: Marlborough (Wither Hills), Canterbury (Rangitata Gorge, Lake Pukaki), Otago (Wanaka, Cromwell, Alexandra, Manorburn Reservoir, Roxburgh, Kyeburn, Ram Rock, Waikouaiti Reservoir, Fortification Hill, Dunedin). On coastal and mainly inland rocks and on soil, most common in xeric communities in inland Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago. Known also from Australia, North and Central America, East and South Africa (Swinscow & Krog 1988; Elix 1994s: 295; Becker 2002; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nash & Elix 2004; Nash et al. 2004a).

Palaeotropical

Illustrations : Galloway (1981b: 545, fig. 13); Hale (1990: 210, fig. 69F); Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 110, 119, 161, 175); Kantvilas et al. (2002: 238).

Xanthoparmelia tasmanica is characterised by: the saxicolous/terricolous habit; loosely adnate thalli, mat-forming and composed of densely imbricate lobes; a black lower surface; and salazinic acid in the medulla.