Flora of New Zealand Series

Parmelia pictada Esslinger in C.F. Culberson et al., Bryologist 80: 131 (1977).

Holotype (fide Esslinger, 1977): New Zealand. Marlborough, Mt Tapuaenuku, 2128 m. J.S. Thomson, T. 1520, CHR 238703.

Thallus appressed to subpulvinate, moderately adnate, 2-8 cm diam., saxicolous. Lobes 0.5-2.5 mm broad, flat to moderately convex near apices, strongly convex centrally, elongate to linear-elongate, discrete to loosely entangled. Upper surface dark olive-brown to red brown or blackening, slightly paler at apices, smooth to weakly pitted at apices, wrinkled-plicate centrally, ± dull, without isidia. Lower surface dark brown to black, paler at apices, smooth and dull, flat to weakly channelled, sparsely to moderately rhizinate. Rhizines concolorous with lower surface, to 0.5 mm long, often in scattered clusters. Apothecia common, sessile, concave when young, plane or subconvex, to 3.5 mm diam., margins irregularly crenate. Ascospores broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, 7-9 × 5.5-6.5 µm. Pycnidia common. Conidia 5-7.5 × 1 µm, bifusiform. Chemistry: Cortex K- HNO3+ dark blue-green; medulla K-, C-, KC-, Pd-. Divaricatic acid.

S: Marlborough (Inland Kaikoura Ra.), Canterbury (Torlesse Ra.), Otago (Mt Ida, Kakanui Ra.). Alpine or subalpine east of the Main Divide.

Endemic

N. pictada is characterised by its linear, often convex lobes and its sparse, clustered rhizines; large areas of the lower surface are devoid of rhizines. Within the rhizine clusters the individuals sometimes fuse together and especially in the more closely appressed thalli may lose their integrity altogether, then appearing as umbilicoid holdfasts. N. martinii (physodic acid) and N. peloloba (alectoronic acid, UV+ blue-white) have a similar morphology but give KC+ rose spot tests. N. adpicta has elongate lobes, but they are flat and more evenly rhizinate below and stenosporic acid is the main medullary compound. The variable species N. pulla should also be carefully distinguished. It is more regularly rhizinate, has flatter and less elongate lobes and is paler.