Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lecidea macula Taylor in J.T. Mackay, Fl. Hibern. 2: 115 (1836).

Description : Thallus irregularly spreading, 1–3(–5) cm diam., areolate. Areolae rounded to angular, brown to dark-brown, plane, surface smooth. Prothallus black, obvious at margins and between areolae. Apothecia rounded, scattered, immersed, 0.15–0.2 mm diam.; disc plane, black, matt, epruinose, margins not obvious. Exciple to 90 μm thick, ectal zone grey-brown, inner zone colourless, medullary zone mostly with photobiont cells. Hypothecium colourless. Hymenium to 40 μm tall, colourless. Epithecium dark grey-green, 7–10 μm thick. Paraphyses branched and anastomosing, 2 μm thick, apices swollen to 3–4 μm thick. Asci 30–40 × 10–11 μm, outer amyloid wall I+ red-brown. Ascospores ellipsoidal, 8–12 × 4–5 μm. Pycnidia not seen.

Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.

S: Canterbury (Phipps Peak, Arthur's Pass), Otago (?Central Otago mountains). On alpine rocks with Lecidea lapicida. This easily overlooked alpine lichen is probably more widespread in alpine localities in the Southern Alps. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, North America, Russia and Siberia (Rambold 1989; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Hertel 2001; Hertel & Andreev 2003; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Hertel & Nash 2004; Santesson et al. 2004). In the Northern Hemisphere it is known from arctic and alpine habitats, on exposed, hard, siliceous rock where it grows with species of Lecidea and with Schaereria fuscocinerea, with which it is frequently confused.

Bipolar

Illustration : Rambold (1989: 87, fig. 6).

Clauzadeana macula is an inconspicuous, commonly overlooked species that is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; small, immersed apothecia (Aspicilia- like); a colourless hypothecium; and a low hymenium.