Melanohalea inactiva
≡Melanelia inactiva P.M.Jørg. in D.J. Galloway & P.M. Jørgensen, N. Z. J. Bot. 28: 10 (1990).
Holotype: New Zealand. Canterbury, Hanmer Springs Forest Park, close to Park Information Centre, on trunks of juvenile Acer platanoides, 365 m, 26.xi.1980, L. Tibell 9705 – UPS. Isotype – BM.
Description : Thallus foliose, appressed, loosely adnate, 3–5(–8) cm diam., sometimes forming extensive, confluent patches to 30 cm diam. Lobes flat, ±elongate, discrete to somewhat imbricate, 3–6 mm broad, to 120 μm thick. Upper surface olive-brown, darkening towards apices, smooth to somewhat rugulose or ±punctate-impressed, ±shining particularly towards margins, sometimes partly white-pruinose and appearing velvety (×10 lens), with punctiform, well-delimited soralia developing from superficial, elevated, ±verruciform pseudocyphellae and at length erupting into coarse-grained finally rather dark soredia. Lower surface dark-brown or black, shining and paler towards margins, with simple to furcate, whitish to olive-brown to brown-black rhizines. Apothecia not seen. Pycnidia numerous, laminal, immersed, verrucose, brownish producing slightly bifusiform conidia, 6–8 × 1 μm.
Chemistry : Cortex K−, HNO3−, TLC−, all reactions negative.
S: Canterbury (Hanmer), Otago (West Matukituki Valley, Central Otago mountains, Flat Top Hill near Alexandra). Occasional to common on subalpine shrubs and scrub, and on planted willows and poplars along riverbanks (rarely also on abandoned fruit trees), generally in drier, eastern subalpine localities. Often with Haematomma babingtonii, Ramalina glaucescens, Teloschistes velifer, Xanthomendoza novozelandica. Also in southern Argentina and Chile (Galloway & Jørgensen 1990: 11).
Austral
Illustration : Galloway & Jørgensen (1990: 10, fig. 7 – as Melanelia inactiva).
Melanohalea inactiva is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the laminal, punctiform, well-delimited soralia developing from pseudocyphellae; the marginal white-pruinosity; and absence of medullary chemistry. It is probably the sorediate counterpart of M. zopheroa.
