Flora of New Zealand Series

*P. bunodophori Wedin, Ertz & Diederich in D. Ertz, C. Christnach, M. Wedin & P. Diederich, Biblthca Lichenol. 91: 25 (2005).

Holotype: New Zealand. North I., Gisborne, Urewera National Park, Lake Waikaremoana, along Ngamoko Track, 38º46's, 177º10'E, 960 m, on Bunodophoron patagonicum, 1992, M. Wedin 4060 (UPS). Isotypes to be distributed in R. Santesson, Fungi Lich. Exs.

Description : Lichenicolous. Ascomata black, inducing distinct galls, 0.5–2.0(–2.3) mm diam.,with a host-derived, thalline pseudo-margin. Galls mainly on upper surface but also on lower surface of host thallus, usually constricted at base; thalline pseudo-margin slightly raised at first, ±crenulate; surface of ascomata ±plane, irregular. Stroma multilocular; sterile stromatic tissue dark-brown, K+ olivaceous, N+ reddish brown; loculi ±globose, perithecioid, c. 120–140 μm diam. Epithecium indistinct. Hymenium hyaline, 85–110 μm tall, I+ blue, quickly turning orange-red. Subhymenium hyaline, 15–25 μm thick, I+ blue, quickly turning orange-red. Paraphyses richly branched and anastomosing, 1–3.5 μm diam., not swollen apically, occasionally with a brownish pigment in upper parts. Asci narrowly clavate, 75–95 × 12–15 μm, (6–)8-spored. Ascospores (3–)4-septate, 22.5–27.5(–33) × 5.5–6.5(–7) μm; hyaline and smooth at first, with a 2-μm-thick perispore, at maturity covered with brown granules of 0.5–1.5 μm diam. Pycnidia not seen.

N: Northland (Little Barrier I.); South Auckland (Pureora Forest); Gisborne (Lake Waikareiti, Lake Waikaremoana); Taranaki (North Egmont, Dawson Falls); Wellington (Mt Holdsworth, Tararua Ra.). S: Westland (Alex Knob Track). On lichen epiphytes (Bunodophoron patagonicum) of forest trees in Nothofagus -dominated forest, in lowland podocarp forest and mixed, podocarp-hardwood forests, 550–900 m. Also in eastern Australia (Ertz et al. 2005: 29).

Australasian

Host : Bunodophoron patagonicum.

Illustrations : Ertz et al. (2005: 27, fig. 5; 28, figs 6, 7; 29, fig. 8; 30, fig. 9).

* Plectocarpon bunodophori is characterised by: the small, apothecia-like galls with a thalline pseudo-margin of host tissue and a constricted base; 8-spored asci; the relatively large 3-septate ascospores that turn brown with age; and Bunodophoron patagonicum as host.