Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen plicatilis Ach., K. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 16: 11 (1795).

Description : Flora (1985: 253).

N: Northland (Waipu Caves, Hukatere Coates Quarry). S: Nelson (Takaka, Mt Arthur), Marlborough (Chalk Ra., Kaikoura), Canterbury (Weka Pass, Castle Hill), Southland (Castle Rock, Clifden). On limestone and marble (map in Galloway 1999: 336, fig. 9). It is still very poorly known and collected in New Zealand and should be looked for more widely on limestone and other basicolous substrata. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco, Ukraine, Turkey and North America (Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Esslinger & Egan 1995; Egea 1996; John 1996; Kondratyuk et al. 1996a; Llimona & Hladun 2001; Coppins 2002b; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Jørgensen & Nash 2004; Santesson et al. 2004).

?Bipolar

Illustrations : Wirth (1995b: 553); Dobson (2000: 219; 2005: 250).

Leptogium plicatile is characterised by: the saxicolous (basicolous rocks, especially limestone) habit; the small, orbicular to irregularly pulvinate thalli; rather tough, rigid, olive-green to green-black lobes with entire, crisped margins, without isidia or phyllidia.