Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen uncialis L., Sp. pl.: 1153 (1753).

Description : Primary thallus evanescent, of tiny squamules, rarely seen. Podetia 2–8 cm tall, 0.5–2(–4) mm wide, without cups, greenish yellow, brownish at apices; forming compact tufts or cushions, branching anisotomic dichotomous, to trichotomous or polytomous; axils open or closed. Surface continously corticate, in places areolate or marbled (×10 lens); internal cavity smooth to striate. Apothecia (peltate) and pycnidia (ovoid) terminal, brown.

Chemistry : K−, C−, KC+ yellow, Pd−, UV+ ice-blue or white or UV−; containing usnic and squamatic (±) acids.

S: Canterbury (Temple Basin, Arthur's Pass), Otago (Pisa Ra., Mt Ida). A high-alpine species from fellfield and alpine herbfield, still rather poorly known and collected here. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Dominican Republic, and Asia (Thomson 1968b, 1979, 1984; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Ahti 2000; Scholz 2000; Litterski & Ahti 2004: 218–219).

Bipolar

Illustrations : Galløe (1954: 39, pls 67–70); Jahns (1980: 203, pl. 471); Moberg & Holmåsen (1982: 136); Thomson (1984: 173); Phillips (1987: 180); Krog et al. (1994: 173); Hansen (1995: 34); Wirth (1995b: 304G, 342); Goward (1999: 112, fig. 6A); Dobson (2000: 135; 2005: 146); Brodo et al. (2001: 277, pl. 276; 278. pl. 277); Sérusiaux et al. (2004: 67); Litterski & Ahti (2004: 236, fig. 23); Pope (2005: 16).

Cladonia uncialis is characterised by: the yellowish green thallus colour (usnic acid); stout, non-sorediate, richly branched podetia that do not form cups and that are smooth-walled within; and the UV± ice-blue reaction of the medulla (squamatic acid present or absent).