Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Pleurocybe patagonica C.W.Dodge, Nova Hedwigia 16: 484 (1969).

≡Sphaerophorus patagonicus (C.W.Dodge) Ohlsson in D.J. Galloway, N. Z. J. Bot. 21: 197 (1983).

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 534–535 – as Sphaerophorus patagonicus); Tibell (1987: 241–246); Wedin (1995b: 73–77; 2001a: 9–10).

Chemistry : Medulla K−, Pd−; containing patagonic acid (major), isopatagonic acid (minor in apothecia, major in thallus), ascomatic acid (major in apothecia, minor in thallus), methyl ascomatate (tr.), 7- O- methylnorascomatic acid (tr. in thallus), norascomatic acid (tr.), usnic acid (tr. in apothecia), and 4- O -demethylsphaerophorin (minor in thallus). Sometimes with traces of sphaerophorin and isousnic acid (Wedin 1995b, 2001a: 10).

N: Northland (Waipoua State Forest) to Wellington (Ruahine Ra.). S: Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park) to Southland (Lake Hauroko). St: C: Also in SE Australia, Tasmania and southern South America – Juan Fernandez, Chile, Argentina (Wedin 1995: 76–77; 2001a: 10; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Austral

Exsiccati : Moberg (1999: No. 262).

Illustrations : Tibell (1987: 243, fig. 182A); Wedin (1995b: 75, fig. 36A–D); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 40).

Bunodophoron patagonicum is very variable in gross morphology. It is most easily recognised by its unique chemistry and in the field it is a relatively large and flattened, erect species with abundant, imbricate, flattened sterile branches. It may be confused with B. insignis, but the latter differs in the persistent thalline receptacle that at least partially covers the mature mazedia, and in the usually more repeatedly branching thalli.