Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Fulgensia vulgaris A.Massal. & De Not. [F. fulgens (Sw.) Elenkin]

Description : Flora (1985: 169).

Fulgensia, included in the family Teloschistaceae (Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005), is a genus of c. 17 species (Kasalicky 2004), characteristic of calcareous rocks and/or soil. It is well-developed in the Northern Hemisphere (Poelt 1965; Gilbert 1978, 1992b; Kärnefelt 1989; Nimis 1993; Poelt & Hinteregger 1993; Westberg & Kärnefelt 1998, Kasalicky et al. 2000; Kasalicky 2004), being most highly speciose in the Mediterranean region. However, it is still rather poorly known in the Southern Hemisphere. Fulgensia is discussed in some detail by Westberg & Kärnefelt (1998) who treat anatomy, morphology and chemistry in the genus, discuss its relationship with Caloplaca, and identify four species groups to accommodate the variation seen throughout the genus. Characters used to circumscribe the genus are: (1) a squamulose to crustose thallus; (2) often with distinct marginal lobes; (3) a yellowish to orange pigmentation; (4) asexual reproduction frequently by schizidia; (5) sessile, lecanorine apothecia; (6) normally reddish brown apothecial discs; (7) simple or 1-septate (rarely more) ascospores which are never polarilocular. Recent molecular work comparing ITS and LSU nrDNA phylogenies of Fulgensia (Kasalicky et al. 2000; Gaya et al. 2003), show that the genus as currently understood is polyphyletic and that some taxa will need to be excluded from it. Two species are known from limestone and limestone soils in New Zealand.