Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Melaspilea concrucians (Kremp.) Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 79 (1894).

Lectotype selected here: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], Charles Knight s.n. – M 0023557. Isolectotype M – 0023558.

Description : Thallus continuous to minutely cracked, pale-fawnish or greyish buff, thin, opaque, spreading in bands of patches on smooth bark, 1–3 cm diam., delimited at margins by a very thin, black, prothalline line. Apothecia innate, Arthonia -like, black, minute, 0.1–0.5(–0.8) mm long, linear, furcate, arcuate to stellate or occasionally punctiform. Paraphysoids, branched and anastomosing. Asci globose to subglobose, 55–60 × 40–45 μm, with a narrow stalk to 10 μm long, 8-spored. Ascospores ellipsoidal, straight or slightly curved, apices rounded to pointed, colourless, pale-olivaceous to brownish blue when over-mature, 3-septate, central two cells larger, 26.5–30 × 8–12 μm, young, or still dividing spores (1-septate), slightly constricted at septa, with a thin perispore.

Chemistry : TLC−, all reaction negative.

N: Wellington.

Endemic

Opegrapha concrucians is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the minute, innate, Arthonia -like apothecia; and 3-septate ascospores, 26.5–30 × 8–12 μm.