Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia stirtonii Zahlbr., Cat. lich. univ. 6 (1): 57 (1929).

=Parmelia bullata Stirt., Trans. N. Z. Inst 32: 78 (1900) non. Ach. [Methodus: 224 (1803)].

≡Menegazzia bullata (Stirt.) Bitter, Hedwigia 40: 267 (1901).

Parmelia bullata. Holotype: New Zealand. Wellington, rec'd March 1882, J. Buchanan – BM. [The rather confused nomenclatural history of Menegazzia stirtonii is discussed in Kantvilas & Louwhoff (2004: 109).]

Description : Thallus in closely attached rosettes or irregularly spreading, 4–6(–8) cm diam. Lobes numerous, contiguous and somewhat radiating at outer edge, complexly folded and crowded centrally, 1–3 mm diam. Apothecia sessile, elevated, cupular, (1–)3–8(–12) mm diam., disc concave to plane, red-brown to brown, epruinose, the thalline margins swollen, inrolled, very thick and wrinkled. Hymenium I+ blue, to 130 μm tall; epithecium dark red-brown, 8–10 μm thick. Asci 8-spored. Ascospores colourless, oblong, thick-walled, contents granular, yellowish, 22–40(–44) × 15–20(–25) μm.

Chemistry : Thallus K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow→red, C− KC+ red, PD+ orange; containing atranorin, norstictic, echinocarpic and norechinocarpic acids.

N: Wellington (Tinakori Hill). S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.), Otago (Mt Cargill). On bark of forest trees.

Endemic

Illustration : Kantvilas & Louwhoff (2004: 109, fig. 3).

Menegazzia stirtonii is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the slightly wrinkled upper surface; elevated apothecia, 3–5 mm diam., with swollen, very wrinkled margins; 8-spored asci; ascospores 22–40(–44) × 15–20(–25) μm; and norstictic (K+ yellow→red) and echinocarpic acids as major secondary compounds (Kantvilas & Louwhoff 2004).