"d. dendroides"
≡Leptogium dendroides Nyl., Flora 58: 438 (1867).
="Dendriscocaulon filicinellum" Nyl., Lich. Nov. Zel.: 10 (1888).
Lectotype: New Zealand. Wellington (Port Nicholson), D. Lyall – H-NYL 41030 [fide Galloway (1985a: 154)].
"Dendriscocaulon filicinellum". Lectotype: Same specimen as above – N–NYL 41030 [fide Galloway (1985a: 154)].
Description : Flora (1985: 154).
Chemistry : TLC−, all reactions negative.
N: Wellington. S: Southland (Arthur Valley Roaring Burn, Wild Natives River, Dusky Sound, Caswell Sound, Edith River, Lake Hankinson). On damp boulders in shaded habitats of high humidity. Often associated with Sticta filix. This was first noted by Peter James in 1962 who later commented "The stalk of Sticta filix and possibly S. latifrons is derived from Dendriscocaulon sp., a lichen with a blue-green phycobiont. Evidence for this was seen near Thomson Hut where a complete series of intergrades between Dendriscocaulon and Sticta filix was collected on damp rocks within the spray zone of a large waterfall. The intermediates were large, stalked plants of Dendriscocaulon up to 3 in. high, with small leaflets of Sticta filix interspersed with the normal branches of the host lichen. Many of the leaflets bore apothecia in all ways typical of those of S. filix. It is likely that the green alga Trebouxia which is characteristic of S. filix takes over the Dendriscocaulon at an early stage, thus completely replacing the blue-green symbiont of the latter species" (James in Mark et al. 1964: 85).
Endemic
Illustrations : James & Henssen (1976: pl. IIA); Malcolm & Galloway (1997: 112).
"Dendriscocaulon dendroides" is characterised by: the caulescent habit, springing from a well-defined holdfast; a well-defined, unbranched, central stalk, 3–10 cm tall; a cyanobacterial photobiont; and glabrous, glossy branches that are only rarely minutely pubescent. Molecular studies show "Dendriscocaulon dendroides" to be nested with Sticta filix and S. lacera, and distinct from S. latifrons (Thomas et al. 2002).
