Flora of New Zealand Series

Lichen fungoides Sw., Nova gen. sp. pl.: 146 (1788).

Baeomyces arcuatus Stirton, J. Linn. Soc. Lond. Bot. 14: 460 (1875).

B. subgranosus Stirton, J. Linn. Soc. Lond. Bot. 14: 460 (1875).

Thallus whitish or greyish-white, scurfy, ecorticate and in parts densely white-sorediate, soredia granular-floury, terricolous. Podetia simple, to 2 cm tall, pale, terete or compressed, surface rather scabrid, vertically furrowed, pale whitish-pink. Apothecia terminal, globose, capitate often convolute, pale flesh-pink to orange-pink, convex, immarginate, surface rather finely warted. Ascospores fusiform, simple, 12-30 × 2-4 µm. Chemistry: thallus and podetia K+ yellow, C-, KC-, Pd+ yellow-orange. Baeomycesic and squamatic acids (UV+ white).

N: Northland to Wellington. S: Nelson-Marlborough to Southland. St: Widely distributed in all parts, coastal and inland, s.l. to 1000 m. A characteristic substrate is clay. It is frequently seen along roadside cuttings where it is often a component in succession. Rare on rock, bark or litter.

Pantropical