Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Trypethelium cumingii Mont., Lond. J. Bot. 4: 5 (1845).

Description : Flora (1985: 204).

N: Wellington (Near Wellington, Kaka Hill, on Hebe parviflora var. arborea, John Buchanan – BM, WELT). The New Zealand material seen agrees with type material of the species examined (BM, FH). On bark of trees and shrubs, probably more widely distributed in North I. Known also from India (Makhija & Patwardhan 1988), the Philippines (Letrouit-Galinou 1957) and Australia (Filson 1996; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Palaeotropical

Illustrations : Letrouit-Galinou (1957: pl. I, E; pl. VIIB, 1–3); Makhija & Patwardhan (1988: 568, fig. 5; 583, fig. 32).

Lauera cumingii is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the yellowish to orange thallus; black, polycarpic pseudostramata (cortex K+ red, Pd−); the orange-yellow medulla (K+ red); and ovate–oblong, parenchymatous ascospores (35–)50–60(–80) × 14–20(–25) μm. Ascospores of New Zealand material are substantially larger than those reported in the literature and it is possible that local collections are better referred to L. benguelensis (Müll.Arg.) Zahlbr.