Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen decipiens Hedw., Descr. adumbr. Musc. Frond. 2: 7 (1789).

Description : Flora (1985: 464).

Chemistry : Medulla K+ yellow, C−, KC−, Pd+ yellow; containing norstictic acid.

N: S: Nelson (Pelorus Bridge), Canterbury (Nape Nape, Weka Pass, Castle Hill, Flock Hill, Ashburton Gorge near Mt Somers, between Tekapo and Pukaki), Otago (Hampden), Southland (Clifden). On limestone soils, often in drainage cracks in limestone or scattered on soils near limestone outcrops. Also colonising sandy soil in cracks between riverine rocks at Pelorus Bridge, and in part consolidating disturbed clay soil in dry grassland on moraine outwash in the Mackenzie Country, and from coastal sites (Nape Nape). P. decipiens from limestone habitats associates with Fulgensia bracteata, Placynthium nigrum and Rinodina bischoffii (C. Meurk pers. comm.) Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Spitzbergen, Greenland, Asia, North America including Mexico, Africa and Australia (Schneider 1980; Timdal 1984b, 1986, 2002b; Swinscow & Krog 1988; Filson 1996; Brodo et al. 2001; Eldridge 2001; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Timdal & Zhurbenko 2004). An indicator of soil crusts or other substrata rich in calcium carbonate (Belnap et al. 2001a: 21; Eldridge 2001).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Weber (1962: pl. I, figs 7,8 – as Lecidea decipiens); Ozenda & Clauzade (1970: 8, fig. 2); Schneider (1980: 99, fig. 14.2); Jahns (1980: 201, fig. 458 – as Lecidea decipiens); Hansen (1982: 24, fig. 8); Timdal (1984b: 527, fig. 1A; 529, fig. 3E; 530, fig.4, fig. 5A; 1986: 261, fig. 9); Wirth (1987: 401; 1995a: 14, pl. 2E; 1995b: 786); Hertel & Rambold (1988: 299, fig. 12); Dobson (1992: 286; 2000: 328; 2005: 372); Goward et al. (1994b: 120, fig. 5B); Hansen (1995: 109); Eldridge & Tozer (1997: 33, fig. 4.9); Heibel et al. (1999: 250); Belnap et al. (2001b: 9, tab. 1.1); Brodo et al. (2001: 600, pl. 724); Sérusiaux et al. (2004: 149).

Psora decipiens is characteristic of limestone areas (though it is also found scattered on dry depleted soils in the Mackenzie Country on old glacial surfaces), the thick, peltate, clustered squamules with a pinkish brown upper surface, ±white-pruinose being especially characteristic. Small forms from dry soil are frequently completely white-pruinose.