Xanthoparmelia subimitatrix
≡Parmelia subimitatrix Essl., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 42: 149 (1977).
≡Neofuscelia subimitatrix (Essl.) Essl., Mycotaxon 7: 53 (1978).
Description : Thallus foliose, orbicular to spreading, moderately to closely attached, 2–6 cm wide. Lobes discrete to subimbricate, flat to weakly convex, sublinear to subirrregular, 0.5–2 mm wide. Upper surface yellowish brown to reddish brown or dark-brown, dull or slightly shining, smooth at margins, becoming wrinkled and cracked on older lobes, without isidia; marginal lobes epruinose. Lower surface pale-tan to brown; rhizines moderately dense, simple, to 0.8 mm long, brown or often blackened. Apothecia common, sessile, to 5 mm diam.; disc flat to subconcave to strongly concave, irregular or lacerate, dark-brown; thalline exciple entire to weakly crenate or lacerate. Ascospores 8–10.5 × 4–5 μm. Pycnidia common. Conidia bifusiform, 5.5–6 × 1 μm.
Chemistry : Cortex K−, HNO3+ dark blue-green; medulla K−, C−, KC+ rose-red, Pd−, UV−; containing physodic acid.
S: Nelson (Mt Benson), Canterbury (Arthur's Pass, Mt Cassidy; Castle Hill Basin). On alpine rocks. Also in southern Africa (Esslinger 1986a, 1986b) and rarely in Western Australia (Elix 1994k: 82; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).
Southern Xeric
Illustration : Elix (1994k: 83, fig. 43A – as Neofuscelia subimitatrix).
Xanthoparmelia subimitatrix is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the moderately to closely attached thallus; the pale lower surface; the absence of isidia; and the presence of physodic acid in the medulla.
