Heterodermia obscurata
Synonyms
Physcia obscurata
Family
Physciaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Foliose
Current conservation status
2018 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous habit; the robust lobes; the distinct labriform soralia; and the rusty brown or orange-pigmented lower surface (K+ purple) that is also ecorticate.
Distribution
North Island: Three Kings Islands to Wellington.
Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Asia, North, Central and South America, Hawai’i, Fiji, New Caledonia, East and South Africa, Socotra, Mauritius and Australia.
Habitat
On bark of coastal trees and shrubs, also on rock and soil in northern coastal habitats.
Detailed description
Lobes disjunct or adjacent, ± plane, not ascending, with short lateral lobes. Upper surface uneven, sorediate. Soralia labriform, on recurved apices of lobes. Lower surface ecorticate with orange-yellow hyphae overlaying medulla (K+ purple). Apothecia laminal, adnate to subpedicellate, thalline exciple crenulate to sorediate. Ascospores with sporoblastidia, 25-35 × 15-18 µm.
Chemistry: Atranorin, zeorin and pigments.
Similar taxa
Similar to Heterodermia casarettiana but distingished by the K+ purple chemical test.
Substrate
Corticolous, occasionally saxicolous or terricolous
Etymology
heterodermia: From the Greek heteros (other, different) and derma (a skin or hide), in reference to the presence or absence of a lower cortex
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (12 February 2022). Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features, and Similar taxa sections copied from Galloway (1985, 2007).
References and further reading
Galloway D.J. 1985: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens. Wellington: PD Hasselberg, Government Printer. 662 pp.
Galloway D.J. 2007: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens, including lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi. 2nd edition. Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua Press. 2261 pp.