marshy's Identifications

Uncommon (probably more overlooked than truly uncommon). Saxicolous on Te Whanga Limestone - in overhangs and in shaded sites, often around drainage holes and pitting in rock. Thallus admixed with Physcia and Caloplaca sp.

Thallus greyish-white with greenish cast when wet. Heavily fertile with occasional pycnidia. Perithecia simple (sometimes fused), erumpent, 0.5-0.8 mm diameter, 0.3-0.5 mm tall. Ascospores red-brown, fusiform with subacute apices, (2-)-3-septate, 25.0 × 6.5 μm. Pycnidia black 100-180 μm diameter. Conidia colourless, filiforme, 8-10 × 0.2-0.4 μm

Common. Saxicolous on hard, crystalline limestone karren field outcropping from peaty ground in pasture either side of road.

Thallus greyish-white with greenish cast when wet. Immersed within substrate, without marginal prothallus. Heavily fertile with numerous small pycnidia. Perithecia simple (sometimes fused), erumpent, 0.5-0.8 mm diameter, 0.3-0.5 mm tall (easily detached from thallus with blade). Ascospores red-brown (many deteriorated in sample), fusiform with subacute apices, (2-)-3(-4)-septate, 25 x 7 microns. Pycnidia black 100-180 microns diameter. Conidia colourless, filiforme, 8-10 x 0.2-0.4 microns.

Voucher: P.J. de Lange CH4167 & L.M.H. Schmid, UNITEC 13375 (Duplicate: AK).

Undescribed species common on ti kouka (Cordyline australis) and in the process of being formally described by Andrew Marshall and André Aptroot.

Very common on ti kouka in the Auckland Region (and probably elsewhere).

People will have to believe me as I have not looked at spores but the identification has been confirmed by Andrew Marshall.

Voucher: P.J. de Lange 15414 & M. Baling, UNITEC 13364 (Duplicates: AK, WELT)

Images taken (21 April 2021) from specimens collected on 15 February 2023.

Uncommon. Occasional on llimestone outcrops in sheltered sites / less exposed locations on margin of Te Whanga lagoon.

Thallus greyish-white with greenish cast when wet. Immersed within substrate, without marginal prothallus. Heavily fertile with numerous small pycnidia. Perithecia simple (sometimes fused), erumpent, 0.5-0.8 mm diameter, 0.3-0.5 mm tall (easily detached from thallus with blade). Ascospores red-brown (many deteriorated in sample), fusiform with subacute apices, (2-)3(-4)-septate, 25 x 7 microns.

Images show specimens - wet and dry and ascospores at 40x magnification.

Common on Cordyline australis branches in exposed sites along roadside. Commonly seen on this phorophyte throughout this portion of Te Paki.

This is the as yet undescribed Lithothelium so far found only on Cordyline australis.

Specimens collected.

Common on exposed branches of Cordyline australis growing along roadsides. This is an as yet undescribed species of Lithothelium (paper describing it in submission) that has thus far only been found on the bark of Cordyline australius.

Specimens collected.

Common on the exposed branches of Cordyline australis growing along trackside.

This is an, as yet undescribed (a paper describing it is in submission) species that appears to be confined to the bark of Cordyline australis.

Specimen collected.

Abundant on the exposed branches of Cordyline australis trees growing in coastal wetland (site frequently flooded).

This is an, as yet undescribed (a paper describing it is in submission) species that appears to be confined to the bark of Cordyline australis.

Specimen collected.

Abundant on the exposed branches of Cordyline australis trees growing on side of road.

This is an, as yet undescribed (a paper describing it is in submission) species that appears to be confined to the bark of Cordyline australis.

Specimen collected.

Corticolous on manawa (Avicennia marina subsp. resinifera). Associated with Lecanora c.f. carpinea, Bacidia sp., Opegrapha agelaeoides and Ramalina celastri.

Specimens fit here best using the New Zealand Lichen "Flora" (Galloway 2007) Caloplaca key. Apothecia orange, closely grouped, minute, up to 0.3 mm diameter; asci 8-spored, ascospores oval, 12.5 microns long, 7 microns wide, septum c. 4 microns thick (about one third spore length).

Voucher: UNITEC.

On the canopy branchlets of Metrosideros excelsa × M. robusta.

Apothecia with well developed exciple, ascospores dark ('buelloid'), 12.5-15 × 5-7 microns. Thallus K+ yellow (atranorin).

Specimen identified by A.J. Marshall 20 June 2023.

Occasional. Corticolous on tarahinau (Dracophyllum arboreum). Thallus pale cream brown, smooth and somewhat 'waxy'. Peritheca often paired, mutliple-chambered with shared ostioles. Ascospores submuriform, 5-7 transverse septate 32 x 12.5 µm.

Determination by A.J. Marshall from specimen (image of ascospores and drawing taken 26 April 2023).

Voucher: P.J. de Lange CH4389, UNITEC 14092.

Abundant. Saxicolous on undifferentiated Te Whanga Limestone. Thallus when fresh (moist) grey to grey-green, bearing numerous, erumpent, black, simple or fused perithecia. Ascospores red-brown, 3-septate, 23-26 × 6-8 μm in those measured.

When first noted on this island (12 February 2023 - see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/150552121) I had considered it uncommon. However on the day this observation was made (18 April 2023) the island had been subjected to rain showers for several days - all exposed limestone examined was covered in masses of this lichen.

Intriguingly it was not seen in any abundance on the adjacent shoreline of Te Whanga on the same substrate. I speculate the difference is that Motuhinahina has fewer mammalian predators, and as such supports a thriving sea bird population. I wonder if the guano they deposit encourages this lichen to flourish?

Voucher collected:

Common on limestone (undifferentiated Te Whanga limestone) - this specimen noted under a dense canopy of taupata (Coprosma repens). Identification confirmed from specimen collected - see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/157417883, https://inaturalist.nz/observations/150552121 for other records).

Abundant. Saxicolous on exposed limestone outcrops in sites subjected to salt water inundation / wave splash. Thallus oily black, much cracked, cracks more or less reticulate (deeply fissured, more obvious when dry - see last image). Perithecia immersed with only ostioles evident when wet, more conspicuous when dry - see last image). Ascospores ellipsoid, 12-16 × 7-8 µm.

Determination by A.J. Marshall 21 April 2023

Voucher: P.J. de Lange CH4465 & H. Tuanui-Chisholm, UNITEC 14229.