Flora of New Zealand Series

≡*Lichen muscorum Scop., Flora Carniol. indig. 2: 365 (1772).

Description : Thallus lichenicolous on Cladonia squamules. Apothecia deeply urceolate, 0.1–0.4 mm diam., disc blackish with a fine white pruina (×10 lens). Hymenium brownish, 80–90 μm tall. Asci 4-spored. Ascospores brownish, submuriform, 20–25 × 10–12 m.

Chemistry : K+ yellowish to red, C+ red, PD−, UV−; containing lecanoric and diploschistesic acids.

S: Otago (Rough Ridge, Roxburgh). On Cladonia squamules in soil at base of schist outcrops (Galloway & Lumbsch 1998); still rather poorly known but undoubtedly more widespread as the species is very easily overlooked. Apparently very rare in the Southern Hemisphere, but widespread in the Northern Hemisphere including Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Africa, North and South America (Lumbsch 1989; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Pant & Upreti 1993; Santesson 1993; Esslinger & Egan 1995; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Jahns (1980: 249, pl. 638 – as Diploschistes bryophilus); Hansen (1982: 26, fig. 12); Lumbsch (1987: 608, fig. 1B–C); Wirth (1987: 185); Lumbsch (1989: 174, fig. 25C–D); Pant & Upreti (1993: 44, fig. 6C); Hansen (1995: 88); Wirth (1995a: 379); Dobson (2000: 152); Brodo et al. (2001: 304, pl. 313).

* Diploschistes muscorum ssp. muscorum differs from ssp. bartlettii in having four spores per ascus and a lower hymenium.