Flora of New Zealand Series

F. novae-zelandiae C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 8: 322 (1876). Trans Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Bot. 1: 281 (1877).

≡Graphis novae-zelandiae (C.Knight) Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 80 (1894).

≡Graphina novae-zelandiae (C.Knight) G.C.Hayw., N. Z. J. Bot. 15: 568 (1977).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probablyWellington], Charles Knight – BM [ Hayward (1977: 568)].

Description : Flora (1985: 172–173 – as Graphina novae-zelandiae).

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

N: Northland (Poor Knights Is, Little Barrier I.) to Wellington. Still very poorly understood and little known in New Zealand. Recent records are from the Poor Knights Is (Hayward & Wright 1991), from Little Barrier I. (Hayward et al. 1991), and from the Waitakere Ra. (Bartlett 1988).

Endemic

Illustrations : Knight (1876: pl. X, fig. 17A, B; 1877: pl. XXXVIII, fig. 7); Hayward (1977: 568, fig. 3B; 570, fig. 5B – as Graphina novae-zelandiae).

Fissurina novae-zelandiae is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the thick, creamish-white thallus; immersed–flexuous (fissurine) lirellae 1–2 mm long, the disc visible only as a narrow grey-white slit; 7–8 × 1–2-locular ascospores, 8 per ascus, 19–24 × 7–10 μm; no demonstrable chemistry.