Flora of New Zealand Series

=Usnea xanthophana Stirt., sensu Galloway (1985a: 603).

Holotype: New Zealand. Canterbury "Am Rangitata Flusse bei der Leiche", Dr A. Sinclair, comm. J. Haast – W. [The earlier naming of this species as U. xanthophana Stirt. (Galloway 1985a: 603–604) is incorrect.]

Description : Flora (1985: 603–604).

Chemistry : Thallus K+ brownish or −; containing fumarprotocteraric and usnic acids.

N: Northland (Kawerua, Great Barrier I.), Auckland (Rangitoto), South Auckland (Tokoroa, Whale I.), Wellington (Ruapehu, Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra., Lake Rotoiti, Mt Mueller, Mt Haast), Marlborough (d'Urville I.), Canterbury (Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Cass, Woolshed Hill, Craigieburn Ra., Governor's Bush, Mt Peel), Otago (Mt Brewster, Matukituki Valley, Dart Valley, Rees Valley, Routeburn Valley, Key Summit, Silver Peaks, Mihiwaka, Mt Cargill, Flagstaff, Leith Valley, Boyd's Bush, Maungatua), Southland (Cascade Creek, Eglinton Valley, Hauroko Burn Fiordland, Borland Saddle, Mavora Lakes, Longwood Ra., West Dome, Waikaia Valley). On trunks and branches of forest trees, mainly a canopy species, especially well developed in Nothofagus forests E of the Main Divide in South I., and often visually arresting at treeline. Like U. articulata (q.v.), and the two taxa are often sympatric; it is a mist species.

Endemic

Illustrations : Martin & Child (1972: 179, pl. 53); Wilson (1978: 279, pl. 542; 1996: 359, pl. 561 – as U. xanthophana).

Usnea ciliifera is characterised by: the corticolous habit. It is similar to U. molliuscula (q.v.), but is distinguished from it by the more richly divided and entangled branches, the thicker cortex, fewer lateral fibrils, and by fumarprotocetraric acid in the medulla.