Flora of New Zealand Series

=Opegrapha prominula C.Knight & Mitt., Trans. Linn. Soc. 23: 102 (1860). non Chev. [J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. 94: 40 (1822)].

≡Opegrapha prominuloides Zahlbr., Cat. lich. univ. 2 (2): 231 (1923).

=Opegrapha subdifficilis Nyl., Lich. Nov. Zel.: 115 (1888).

=Opegrapha subdifficilis var. avicenniae Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 260 (1941).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], Charles Knight, Herb. Knight Vol. 65A:1 – WELT [fide G. Hayward (1977: 579)].

Opegrapha prominula. Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Auckland], Charles Knight 235, Herb. Knight Vol. 65A:15 – WELT [fide G. Hayward (1977: 579)]. Isolectotype – BM.

Opegrapha subdifficilis. Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], Charles Knight – H-NYL 6330 [fide Hayward (1977: 579)]. Isolectotypes – H-NYL 6234, WELT, Herb Knight Vol. 65A: 11.

Opegrapha subdifficilis var. avicenniae. Isotype: New Zealand. Auckland, Rangitoto I., on Avicennia marina, L.B. Moore [ZA 14] – CHR 241775.

Description : Flora (1985: 327).

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

N: Northland (Three Kings Is, Radar Bush, Tokerau Beach, Cavalli Is, Kawerua, Bay of Islands, Poor Knights Is, Whangaroa Harbour, Opua, Cavalli Is, Hen & Chickens Is, Fanal I., Little Barrier I., Great Barrier I.), Auckland (Waitakere Ra., Chelsea, Rangitoto I.), South Auckland (Great Mercury I., Glenbrook), Taranaki (New Plymouth), Wellington (Oroua River near Feilding, Kapiti I.). S: Marlborough (Chetwode Is), Canterbury (Riccarton Bush, Pigeon Bay Banks Peninsula), Southland (Invercargill, Tiwai Point). St: (Noble I. Port Pegasus). On bark of coastal trees (especially mangrove) and on smooth-barked trees (Salix) in grassland, and on introduced trees in urban streets and parks, apparently able to withstand moderate pollution loads (Johnson et al. 1998). Still rather poorly known and collected here.

Endemic

Illustrations : Knight & Mitten (1860: pl. XI, fig. 19 – as Opegrapha prominula); Knight (1884: pl. XL, fig. 15); Nylander (1888: tab. 1, fig. 10 – as Opegrapha subdifficilis); Hayward (1977: 578, fig. 11D; 581, fig. 13D); Malcolm & Malcolm (2000: 78).

Opegrapha intertexta is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the creamish white, thin thallus; the slender, densely crowded, flexuous black lirellae, 0.5–4 × 0.2 mm; colourless, 3–8-septate ascospores, 12–20 × 3–6 μm.