Flora of New Zealand Series

B. austromontana P.M. Jørg. et D. Galloway, N.Z. J. Bot. 21: 336 (1983).

Holotype: New Zealand. Canterbury, Four Peaks Range. Blue Mountain, 1612 m, on rocks in summit fellfield. DJ. Galloway, 23 April 1979. CHR 381023!

Thallus pendent, subpendent or prostrate, usually 7-15(-20) cm long, branching isotomic-dichotomous, frequent from base, angles between dichotomies acute or obtuse and rounded, occasionally with short, perpendicular, lateral spinulose branches, branches terete, even, 0.2-0.3 mm diam., at base, main branches 0.1-0.2 mm diam., tapering towards apices, dark bronze-brown to dark brown or blackish, matt or slightly shining. True lateral spinules absent. Soralia absent. Pseudocyphellae sparse or absent, fusiform, depressed, brownish, 0.5-1 mm long. Apothecia not seen in New Zealand material. Chemistry: cortex K-, C-, KC-, Pd-; medulla K-, C-, KC-, Pd-. No substances detected by TLC.

S: Canterbury (Godley Valley, Mt Peel, Four Peaks Ra., Kirkliston Ra.), Otago (Coronet Peak). In high-alpine fellfield on rock outcrops in exposed situations, 1500-1800 m. Associating with: Alectoria nigricans, Arthrorhaphis citrinella, Brigantiaea fuscolutea, Cetraria islandica subsp. antarctica, Cladonia southlandica, Coccocarpia palmicola, Coelocaulon aculeatum, Hypogymnia lugubris, Lecanora broccha, Leptogium crispatellum, Menegazzia aeneofusca, M. castanea, Neo-fuscelia martinii, N. peloloba, Neuropogon acromelanus, N. ciliatus, N. subcapillaris, Pannaria hookeri, Parmelia signifera, P. sulcata, Pseudocyphellaria degelii, P. delisea, P. lechleri, Pseudephebe pubescens, Pertusaria dactylina, Psoroma buchananii, P. hirsutulum, Rhizocarpon geographicum, Teloschistes fasciculatus, Thamnolia vermicularis, Umbilicaria cylindrica, U. decussata, U. hyperborea, U. propagulifera and Usnea torulosa.

Endemic

In Martin and Child ["Lichens of New Zealand" p. 41 (1972)] this characteristic species is named Alectoria jubata and is said to be sorediate and to have a Pd+ red reaction. However, the South I. populations discussed above are non-sorediate, and have no detectable chemical constituents. First collected in New Zealand from mountains at the head of Lake Tekapo by D. Scott (OTA 307, 14 February, 1959).