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Notes on Cladinae Reported from New Zealand
1. Cladonia rangiferina Hoffm.
The earlier botanists interpreted many species more widely than their successors, and at the time when C. alpestris, C. sylvatica and C. pycnoclada were regarded as varieties, the record was valid. When, however, the modern restricted connotation received sanction, C. rangiferina ceased to be a valid indigen. It alone of the Rangiferinae lacked usnic acid, but it contained atronorine, which gave it a K+, P+ reaction as in the South American C. vicaria. No New Zealand Cladinae give either a K+ or P+ reaction.
2. Cladonia sylvatica (L) Hoffm.
This species has been recorded from Mt. Maungatua and Mt. Pisgah, in Otago, from Kelly Range, in Westland, and from several other localities. Most of the specimens so named in New Zealand have been examined by the writer, and in every case found to be P−, whereas C. sylvatica is always P+. Both chemically and as a rule morphologically, the New Zealand plants correspond to C. mitisy They also lack the characteristic arachnoid tomentum of C. sylvatica, which species must be expunged from the New Zealand flora.
3. Cladonia mitis Sandstede.
C. mitis f. attenuata determined for Dr. H. H. Allan by Dr. Sandstede, and C. mitis recorded by Dr. Alex. W. Evans (Rhodora 45: 434) are the only recorded occurrences of this species in New Zealand. C. mitis does not differ strongly from C. sylvatica save in its chemical reactions and in the poorer development of arachnoid tomentum, in the presence of verruculae, and in the single branches between contiguous whorls lacking the unilateral development usual in C. sylvatica. The terminal branchlets in C. sylvatica bend in one direction and become sub-parallel; in C. mitis this may occur but they are usually more divergent and sometimes either straight or only slightly curved. C. mitis is P− save occasionally at the tips.
Localities. Eglinton Valley, West Otago, det. Sandstede; Atiamuri, Rotorua (leg. K. W. Allison, det Evans); Maungatua (leg. J. S. Thomson, Herb. D. S. I. R. as A.4 and A.10); Longwood Range (leg. J. S. Thomson, Herb. D. S. I. R. as A.11 and T.2971; det. W. M.): Mt. Pisgah, in moss (Herb. D. S. I. R., leg. J. S. Thomson.
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as A.47, T.1912, and S.150: det. W. M.): Kelly Range D. S. I. R. No. 2396; det. W. M.).
4. Cladonia pycnoclada (Pers.) Nyl.
Hitherto this has been regarded as the commonest member of the New Zealand Cladinae. As mentioned above, Santesson has stated that the New Zealand plants so named by Vainio were not that species. Through the courtesy of the director of the D. S. I. R. I. have examined the extensive collections housed in their herbarium and find that not one is P+, as all plants of the South American species are, and all lack perlatolic acid. Morphologically the two species are much alike, but it is clear that if important chemical distinctions are to be maintained as specific characters then “f. flavida”, as many are labelled, must be replaced by C. leptoclada, and “f. exalbescens” by C. impexa. However, these two “forms” merge in so many cases so that it is difficult to relegate many specimens to the correct group. The difference in colour is the best guide, but intermediate shades exist so that no clearly defined colour boundary separates C. leptoclada from C. impexa. Indeed, C. leptoclada and C. impexa, but for the presence of both in New Zealand, might have been regarded as mere geographic races of a single species—namely, C. impexa.
5. Cladonia leptoclada Des Abbayes.
This species was segregated from C. impexa by Des Abbayes to incorporate plants from Central Africa, New Caledonia and New Zealand which in the mass had a different aspect and a yellower colour. The South American equivalent was similarly segregated as C. confusa by Santesson. The differences between these three species (?) are so slight that it would often be necessary to know the source from which a specimen had been obtained before it could be named (4). All three contain usnic and perlatolic acids; all three show dichotomies and trichotomies round open or closed axils; all tend to produce sympodia in their lower parts; while their surfaces and ultimate branchlets are very similar. Apart from slight differences in density of branching and in the colour, there is little to differentiate this species from C. impexa C. pycnoclada lacks perlatolic acid and is P+, and though C. leptoclada may sometimes be lacking in perlatolic acid, it is invariably P− What has formerly been regarded in New Zealand as C. pycnoclada var. flavida must now be labelled C. leptoclada, though with the reservation that this species may ultimately be merged into C. impexa, from which it had been segregated, as a colour form.
Localities previously recorded include Kaiteriteri, in Nelson; Cleddau Valley, in West Otago; Awarua, in Southland; Lake Manapouri; and Stewart Island. The following specimens in Herb. D. S. I. R. are transferred from C. pycnoclada to C. leptoclada Mt: Egmont (A. 2); Herekino (A. 3); Whangarei (A. 12 and A. 20); Little Barrier Is. (A. 9), Hen and Chicken Islands (A. 15), Poor Knights Islands (A. 26); Mt. Moehau (A. 24, A. 27)., Rangitoto Is. (A. 28, A 30, A 45); Kaihere (A. 42), Kaingawa (A. 7); Matauhi Bay (A. 8), Ruakura (A. 21), Rotorua (A. 14); Hutt Valley (A. 18); Bull Mound (A. 19); Chelsea (A. 22); Kirita Bay (A. 31); Mt. Maungatua (A. 6, A. 41); Lee Stream (A. 32); Verterburn (A. 34); Greymouth(A. 33, A. 36, A. 37).
6. Cladonia impexa Harm.
This species was deemed almost cosmopolitan by Des Abbayes, who included both New Zealand and Hawaii in its range as well as South America. Magnusson soon showed that Hawaiian plants were distinct and named them C. Skottsbergii. Similarly, Santesson segregated South American plants as C. confusa, and Des Abbayes himself segregated C. leptoclada, leaving C. impexa in its restricted connotation as a plant possibly confined to the Northern Hemisphere. Evans (4) who
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accepted this distribution, later confirmed my own view that specimens sent him by me were in fact C. impexa. Thus both C. impexa and C. leptoclada are indigenous to New Zealand. Typical plants of the former are dull grey-green, while typically C. leptoclada is yellowish or yellowish-green. In both, thyrsoid heads are common, as in C. alpestris, the surface is dull and more or less areolate, and branching is commonly in whorls of three or more, rarely four or even five round open axils. The ultimate branchlets are commonly straight or slightly curved and spreading, two and three being the usual number. Plants formerly labelled C. pycnoclada f. exalbescens in New Zealand must now be transferred to C. impexa; but it must be remembered that there is no clear line of separation between these two species in New Zealand.
Localities. New Zealand (Des Abbayes); Eastbourne, Wellington (leg. W. M., det. Dr. A. W. Evans); Haywards, Wellington (leg. H. H. Allan, det. W. M); Awarua (W. M.).
7. Cladonia alpestris (L.) Rabenh.
Cladonia alpestris has a very characteristic structure and appearance. The axis is sympodial, with frequent whorls of from three to six branches round gaping axils. An occasional dichotomy may also be evident. The apical whorl usually consists of short, straight branchlets forming a starlike fringe round a gaping central hole. These are never tipped with brown as is common in some other species. The colonies are normally white or faintly yellow, though the basal parts may be somewhat dingy. The upper branches commonly form round, thyrsoid heads. C. alpestris and plants formerly listed as C. pycnoclada have sometimes been confused, and one foreign authority has suggested that all southern records may have been based on the latter species This, however, is not so, for both the normal form and f. portentosa undoubtedly occur.
As in other lands, this species in New Zealand shows a liking for sandy soils, especially in coastal areas, as at Awarua and at Sandy Point, near Invercargill. It also occurs on pumiceous soils in the Taupo and Rotorua areas and on peat at Awarua. If the absence of red conidiangial jelly be deemed a specific difference, this species may be C. alpestroides Des. Abb.
Localities. Mt. Maungatua, Otago (J. S. T., 2927); Awarua, Southland (W. M., —); Sandy Point Reserve (G. C. Martin and W. M., 5605); Taupo (K. W. Allison); New Zealand (Sinclair, Haast); Key Summit (J. S. T., 2927).
Var. portentosa—New Zealand: C. Knight, Müll Argov; Maungatua (J. S. T., 2146); Sandy Point (W. M., 5606 and G. C. Martin).