Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen deformis L., Sp. Pl.: 1152 (1753).

Description : Flora (1985: 111).

Chemistry : Cortex K−, C−, KC+ yellow, Pd−; containing usnic acid, zeorin and ±barbatic acid.

N: South Auckland (Kaimai Ra.), Wellington (National Park). S: Otago-Southland in eastern coastal districts (Lammermoor summit, Swampy Hill, Dunedin to Awarua Bay). On peaty soils, in Leptospermum heath, on rotting logs in grassland. Apparently very rare in New Zealand. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Asia, South America, Falkland Is, Antarctica (Goward 1999; Øvstedal & Lewis Smith 2001; Ahti & Hammer 2002).

Bipolar

Illustrations : Galløe (1954: 37, pls 60–63); Martin & Child (1972: 113, pl. 25); Jahns (1980: 207, fig. 483); Thomson (1984: 129); Wirth (1987: 147; 1995: 301); Krog et al. (1994: 155); Goward (1999: 117, fig. 8A); Purvis (2000: 39); Brodo et al. (2001: 251, pl. 228).

Cladonia deformis is distinguished from C. sulphurina by the absence of squamatic acid (UV−), the smaller basal squamules, the more regular, well-defined scyphi with even margins, and fewer longitudinal fissures in the podetial walls.