Flora of New Zealand Series

P. cyrtospora (Stirton) Müll. Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 95 (1894).

Verrucaria cyrtospora Stirton, Rep. Trans. Glasgow Soc. Fld Nat.: 22 (1873).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Wellington (Tinakori Hills). J. Buchanan, BM!

Thallus epiphloeodal, ochraceous, smooth, waxy, continuous, occasionally irregularly cracked, not areolate-rimose, in bands or patches 1-2(-4) cm wide, not delimited at margins. Perithecia emergent, scattered, rounded to somewhat irregular, discrete or 2-4-confluent, 0.1-1.0 mm diam., hemispherical to ± conical, black, shining or with whitish arachnoid covering of cortex or periderm. Ostiole central, gaping, to ± papillate. Ascospores uniseriate, ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, 4-locular (15.5-)17-20.4 × 6.8-8.0 µm. Chemistry: UV+ orange before charring, UV+ pale blue after charring.

N: Auckland to Wellington. Widespread on bark of shrubs in open forest.

Endemic