Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia (Menegazzia) aucklandica Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 361 (1941).

Holotype: New Zealand. Northland, Mahurangi River, on Avicennia resinifera, L.B. Moore, ZA 125 – W. Isotype – CHR.

Description : Flora (1985: 278).

Chemistry : Medulla K+ yellow-orange, C−, KC+ orange, Pd+ orange; containing atranorin, stictic, constictic and menegazziaic acids and an accessory compound.

N: Northland (35–37ºS) to Wellington (Browns Track, Tinakori Hill), coastal. S: Nelson, Westland, Fiordland, inland Canterbury, coastal Otago (Swampy Spur, Flagstaff) and Southland. On trees and shrubs, s.l. to 1000 m.

Endemic

Menegazzia aucklandica is a rather variable species ranging from compact, often congested, thalli to rather loose-lobed radiating thalli with almost terete lobes. Perforations are always elevated and in extreme states have a collar-like rim. The 2-spored asci distinguish it from M. pertransita, and the absence of granules in the epithecium, from M. lucens – these two latter species also have differing chemistries. It differs from the Australian species M. platytrema (Müll.Arg.) R.Sant., in the white internal cavity and slightly broader ascospores.