Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Urceolaria stictica Körb., Abh. schles. Ges. vaterl. Kult. 40, 2A: 32 (1863).

Description : Thallus crustose, uniform, rimose–areolate, adnate, dark bluish grey to bluish brown; areolae 0.5–1.5 mm diam. Apothecia perithecioid, immersed, grey-black, to 0.75 mm diam, and 0.35 mm tall. Proper exciple brown, 40–70 μm thick, pseudoparenchymatous. Hymenium 120–160 μm high. Hypothecium 15 μm thick, hyaline. Paraphyses 1–1.5 μm thick, simple. Asci cylindrical, 6–8-spored, I−, 110–150 × 20–28 μm. Ascospores ellipsoidal, brown, muriform, 19–27 × 10–15 μm. Conidiomata not seen.

Chemistry : K−, C+ red, Pd−; containing gyrophoric acid (major), lecanoric acid (minor), and unidentified compounds (tr.).

N: Northland (Spirits Bay, Mt Puheke, Uruwhao Pinnacles, Kawerua, Tapuaeroa River Gorge). S: Nelson (Puponga), Canterbury (Lake Ohau), Otago (Green Island, Saddle Hill, Lee Stream). In dryish habitats on acid rocks. Known also from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Australia (Lumbsch & Elix 1989; Guderley & Lumbsch 1996; Becker 2002; Lumbsch & Elix 2003; McCarthy 2003c, 2006). Commonly associating with Ramboldia petraeoides, Xanthoparmelia amplexula and X. mougeotina. First collected in New Zealand from near Dunedin in October 1861 by Dr W. Lauder Lindsay (Nylander 1866b: 252; Lindsay 1866b: 542).

Western Pacific

Illustrations : Lumbsch & Elix (1989: 197, fig. 1D); Guderley & Lumbsch (1996: 289, fig. 13C).

Diploschistes sticticus differs from the related D. euganeus in the darker thallus colour; narrower ascospores, 19–27 × 10–15 μm; and the presence of gyrophoric acid. It is probably the most commonly occurring species of Diploschistes with perithecioid ascomata in New Zealand.