Physcia chrysophthalma Nyl., Synops. Lich., 410 (1860).

J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 9, 249 (1865).

Lich. N. Z., 45 (1888).

Linds., Trans. Linn. Soc., 25, 518 (1866).

Hook, Handb N.Z. Fl., 572 (1867).

Parmelia chrysophthalma DC., Buch; Trans. N.Z. Inst., 6, 231 (1873).

Hook, Fl. N.Z., II, 287 (1855).

Thallus small foliose-fruticose, in small clumps to 4 cm dia. and ½–2 cm high, usually formed from single plants. Thallus initially of stellate-radiate laciniae ½ mm wide, eventually forming erect, branched, rigid, dorsiventral lobes up to 2½ mm wide with almost spinous marginal fibrils, golden or orange yellow above particularly near ends of lacinae, matt or slightly shining, smooth or weakly longitudinally ridged; white or partly yellow below and usually longitudinally veined and wrinkled; cortex 20–50 (-100)μ thick, very uneven, of horizontal or periclinal thick-walled hyphae; algal layer mostly on upper side, discontinuous, algal cells Trebouxia, 10–15μ dia.; medulla of loosely woven 3μ dia. hyphae or lobes partly hollow; lower cortex like upper but more uneven. Apothecia on the ends or margins of small laciniae, 1–6 mm wide, nearly plane or older ones convex, disc orange-yellow, margin thin, slightly elevated, with up to 150 concolorous fibrils ½-2 mm long; hypothecium hyaline, 10–25μ thick, hymenium hyaline except for granular yellow epithecium, 40–55μ high; paraphyses simple or furcate, 1½μ thick, thickened at tip; asci almost ellipsoid, about 35 × 13μ; spores ellipsoid, (10-) 13–15 × (3½-) 5–6 (-8) μ, r= 0. 25–0. 5 Pyenidia not seen on New Zealand specimens.

Habitat. On bark.

Distribution. Probably cosmopolitan. North Island: New Lynn (L. M. Cranwell) CHR; Atiamuri, Allison—, Taupo (Colenso, 998) WELT; Waitangi (Hawke's Bay, Colenso, 3008, 3540 and 3555) WELT; Napier (Colenso) WELT; Canterbury; Waipara (A. J. Healy, 58/493) CHR; Leithfield (A. J. Healy, 58/530) CHR; Temuka, Mason, 253; Timaru (H. H. Allan) CHR; Otago: Waikouaiti, T 27, T 334; Macrae's Hill, T 2481, Mt. Royal, T 322 (pr p); the Kaik, Mr., 579, Taiaroa Head, T 1023, Saddle Hill, 1,000ft, Mr., 852; Taieri, 3559; Akatore R., Mr., 583; Balclutha (H. H. Allan) CHR. Southland Waikaia, Mr., 5414; Kaiwera, Mr., 1317; (pr. p.), Gore, Mr., 606; Forest Hill, 018.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. chrysophthalmus f. cinereus (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. cinereus Müll. Arg., Flora 63, 265 (1880).

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus f. cinereus Zahlbr, Cat. Lich. univ., 7, 316.

Lich, N.Z., 123 (1941).

Thallus and apothecial margins greyish, K-, fibrils grey, or yellowish grey, thallus sometimes pale yellow tinted at ends.

Distribution. South America, New Zealand. Otago: Dunedin, 1220, 1221; Saddle Hill, Mr., 484. Southland: Kaiwera, Mr., 725, Mr., 5415; Invercargill, Mr., 5416.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. chrysophthalmus f. denudatus (Hoffm.) Mull. Arg.

Platisma denudatum Hoffm; Descr Adumbr Pl. Lich., II, 23 (1794).

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus f. denudatus Müll. Arg. apud Zahlbi., Lich. rar. exs. no. 40.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. denudatus Müll Arg., Bull Herb Boissier, II, app. 1, 29 (1894).

Thallus yellow or partly grey, apothecia usually larger than in the common form, margins without fibrils or with a few very short ones.

Distribution. Europe, New Zealand. North Island: Tauranga CHR; Kakariki (A. J. Healy) CHR (very small plants); Wellington Heads (A. J. Healy) CHR. Otago: Brighton, Mr., 776. Southland: Te Anau (W. G. H. Edwards) 1183, 1184.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. chrysophthalmus f. subinermis (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. subinermis Müll. Arg., Flora, 63, 265 (1880).

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus f. subinermis Zahlbr, Cat. Lich. Univ. 7, 318.

Lich. N.Z., 123 (1941).

Thallus grey, including apothecial margin which lacks fibrils; fibrils on laciniae few and short.

Distribution. Temperate Southern Hemisphere. Otago: Mt. Royal Station(Thomson, H 57=T 322 pr. p.) CHR.

The species is probably common throughout New Zealand, at least in coastal areas and on exotic trees, particularly in orchards. Like Xanthoria parietina var. parietina, it may be partly or entirely introduced, although it was certainly recorded by 1845. The above forms are not well separated from the typical form, which I take to be that called f. armatus by Hillmann (1930). Certainly these forms can hardly be maintained as distinct varieties as was done by Hillman. The North Island material is generally rather smaller and more delicate than typical Otago specimens, but both differ notably from Hillmann's description of European plants in the considerably lower hymenium and narrower spores (Hillmann gives the hymenium as 70–82μ high and the spores as broadly ellipsoid, 10–17 × 6–8μ). In the local specimens I have examined the spores are rarely more than 6½μ wide; in the Tauranga specimen under f. denudatus many of the spores measure 15 × 3½μ. If these differences prove to be significant taxonomically, presumably a complete set of new forms and varieties would be required.

In the Knight Collection in WELT are a number of specimens without locality which apparently belong to var. expallens Müll. Arg., with small yellow rosulate thalli with small entire margined apothecia. I have not seen any undoubted New Zealand specimens, and Knight's material probably came from Australia. However, in view of the discovery of the Australian T. sieberianus and spinosus in New Zealand, the occurrence of T. chrysophthalmus var. expallens here also cannot be discounted.

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. flavoalbidus (Krmphb.) Malme.

Physcia chrysophthalma f. flavo-albida Krmph, Verh K. K. zool-bot Ges Wien, 18, 322 (1868)

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. flavoalbidus Malme, Ark. f. Bot., 20A, 46 (1926).

Plant up to 5 cm dia, 3 cm high, forming an open cushion of relatively long, erect, linear, sparingly branched lobes ½–-1 (1½) mm wide with fibrils mostly terminal, pale yellow near tips of lobes, elsewhere grey-white, cortex 35–40μ thick, more even and with more horizontal hyphae than in var. chrysophalmus, apothecia small, yellow, with fibrillose margins, hymenium 50μ high, spores ellipsoid, 12–15 × 5. 2–6 5μ, r=0 3–0 5.

Distribution. Chile. Otago; Portobello, 3905.

Further collections may show this to be no more than a form of the species, although the few specimens in this collection seem distinct. Again the New Zealand material I have put here has narrower spores than described for the Chilean specimens, although there seem no macroscopic differences (Hillmann gives the spores as 10–14 × 7–8 .5μ).

Teloschistes fasciculatus Hillm var. fasciculatus.

Teloschistes fasciculatus Hillm, Fedde's Report Seec nov, 49, 176 (1938).

Zahlbr, Lich NZ, 123 (1941)

Zahlbr, Lich NZ, 123 (1941)

Thallus forming clumps ½–3 cm dia and up to 1 cm high of interlaced erect orange-red laciniae 3–10 mm long by 0. 15–0. 5 mm wide, sparingly branched, smooth and whitish beneath except in the upper portions, flat or caniculate above, matt or reddish pruinose, with margins granular sorediate or with whitish eroded spots; soredia concolorous, in minute elliptical soralia or sometimes a few patches of farinose yellow soredia present also, sparingly fibrillate on margins, fibrils concolorous, ½-1 mm long. Cortex of periclinal to longitudinal hyphae, the outer part heavily interspersed with orange granules, 10–50μ thick, algae very few, scattered at base of cortex, algal cells Trebouxia, 14–18μ, with many zoosporangia up to 30μ dia. present, lower cortex similar to the upper but hyphae more vertical. Neither apothecia nor pycnidia seen.

Habitat. On rock debris in subalpine situations.

Distribution. New Zealand. Otago: Mt. Sutton (Lake Ohau), 2,300ft, 1767;

Mt. Ida, T 2742; Alexandra (W. Martin) 1664, Mr. 7351; Kyeburn, T 24 (and in

CHR); Maungatua 2,900ft, 0339a, 1962, T 357 (and as H56 in CHR, isotype specimens).

A very distinct species, which is very rare in the type locality and elsewhere, although it is probably to be found throughout inland subalpine Otago. There is evidently another anthraquinone pigment present besides physcion, since application of KOH gives red needles and purple prisms of the potassium salts.

Teloschistes fasciculatus Hillm. var. nodulosus Murray, var. nov.

A varietate typicale differt lacinus brevioribus, subimbricatis ad terminalia nodulososorediatis, plantam plus caespitosam formantibus; apothecia pycnidiaque non visa.

Thallus forming patches 5–20 mm dia. and 2–5 mm high, of ascending more or less imbricate sparingly branched laciniae 1–4 mm long × 0.1–0.8 mm wide, mostly plane, pruinose or not, yellow or orange above, mostly white below, with a few concolorous fibrils on margins and sometimes also on upper surface; margins entire towards the base, irregularly nodulose and sorediate towards the ends; soredia mostly granular, but a few elongated patches of greenish-yellow farinose soredia often present also: structure as for the typical but medulla more loosely woven.

Habitat. On mosses in alpine localities.

Distribution. Canterbury: Cass (W. R. Philipson, β11) Canterbury University Bot. Dept.; Mistake Peak, 5,000ft, Sc 69; Cass River, 4,000ft, Sc 55, Sc 1070; Tekapo (H. H. Allan V 181) CHR (pr. p.); Ben Ohau Range, 5,000ft, Mason, 130 (pr. p.); 6,000ft, Mason, 154 (Type). Southland: Ben Bolt, 1,500ft, 0339 (doubtful).

The variety is superficially similar to Antarctic forms of Xanthoria candelaria, from which it is distinguished by the fibrils and the different structure of the cortex, although the lower cortex in a few specimens approaches a plectenchymatous appearance. The Southland specimen is very small and has no soredia, and possibly belongs to some other species.

Teloschistes flavicans (Sw) Norm var. flavicans

Lichen flavicans Sw., Nov. Gen. Spec. Plant., 147 (1788).

Teloschistes flavicans Norm., Nyt. Mag. f. Naturvid, 7, 229 (1853)

Physcia flavicans Hook; Handb. N.Z. Fl., 572 (1867).

Teloschistes flavicans f. glaber Wain. Cranw. & Moore, Rec. Auck. Mus., l, 314 (1935).

Zahlbr; Lich; NZ; 123 (1941)

Thallus pale yellow, forming loose clumps 2–10 cm dia., 4–10 cm high, of terete or slightly angled matt or minutely tomentose laciniae 0.1–0.4 mm dia., dichotomously branched with nodes 1–5 mm apart, with scattered 1 mm long black-tipped fibrils and a few pale sorediate patches; cortex 80μ thick, of longitudinal hyphae with some vertical hyphae extending to form a thin tomentum; algae scattered under cortex, 8–12μ dia.; medulla hardly evident and lobes mostly hollow. (Apothecia 2–4 mm dia., lateral, sessile, plane to convex, yellow to brown, hymenium 70–100μ high, spores 12–18 × 6–12μ. Adapted from Hillmann. 1930).

Habitat. On trees or rarely mossy rocks.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan in warm climates. North Island: Hen Island (L. M. Cranwell, ZA 17) CHR (several collections).

The specimens seen by Zahlbruckner have black-tipped fibrils, whereas f. glaber is described as having all yellow fibrils. The New Zealand specimens thus correspond to var. intermedius Müll. Arg., an African form of the species, but except for this feature they are very like North American specimens.

Teloschistes flavicans var. compressus Murray, var. nov.

Evernia flavicans Hook., Fl. N.Z., II, 269 (1855).

(?) Physcia flavicans Linds., Trans. Linn. Soc., 25, 519 (1866).

A varietate typicale differt laciniis brevioribus, glabris, pro majore parte compressus, ad 0.8 mm latis et supra major minusve plants, solum ramulis ultimis teretibus, fibrillis concoloribus dispersis.

Thallus forming an orange-red mat to 20 cm dia. and 1–1½ cm high, of several times di- and trichotomously branched laciniae: laciniae mostly flat and dorsiventral or weakly

caniculate, up to 0.8 mm wide and 0.15 mm thick, final branches terete to angular, 0.1–0.15 mm dia., with scattered concolorous or rarely black-tipped fibrils and granular sorediate patches on margins and upper surface, cortex about 50μ thick of conglutinate horizontal hyphae without protruding hyphae, algae scattered under cortex, Trebouxia, 10–14μ dia.; medulla thin and obsolete or arachnoid and up to 80μ thick, lobes not hollow, sterile.

Habitat. Uncertain, apparently on subalpine rocks or logs.

Distribution. Australia, New Zealand. North Island: Waiariki (near Wellington) (Colenso 2170) WELT; Colonial Knob (Wellington) (H. H. Allan) CHR.

The identification of these specimens with the Australian variety is not certain, although they match the meagre description very well. The Australian plant is apparently known only from the type specimen, and this was not found by Hillmann (1930). According to Hillmann var. croceus differs in being a larger plant with nearly terete lobes, and var. exilis in being usually grey-green and forming much smaller clumps than Colenso's plant. The plant doubtfully identified as T. flavicans by Lindsay was from a subalpine situation, and may also belong here. The variety looks intermediate between var. flavicans and T. fasciculatus.

Teloschistes spinosus (Hook. f. & Tayl.) Murray, comb nov.

Parmelia spinosa Hook. f. & Tayl., Lond. J. Bot, 3,644 (1844).

Teloschistes sieberianus Hillm, Hedwigia, 69, 315 (1930) (pr. p.).

Thallus yellow to orange-yellow, initially squamulose on twigs, finally forming small cushions to 3 cm dia. and 2–5 mm high of more or less stellate-radiate laciniae 1–3 (-5) mm long × 0.3–0.8 mm wide and 0.1–0.15 mm thick, sparingly branched, flat to canicullate above, loosely adnate to substrate or ascending or erect, with scattered 1-½ mm long concolorous marginal fibrils and a few whitish rhizines on lower surface; esorediate, upper cortex fibrous, 20–50μ thick of 4μ dia. hyphae, algal layer irregular, with Trebouxia cells 10–18μ dia.; medulla loosely woven of 3μ dia. thin-walled hyphae, lower cortex up to 50μ thick, between fibrous and plectenchymatous. Apothecia at first sessile on upper surface, eventually appearing stipitate with 2–4 mm long grooved stalks (due to the thallus thickening and becoming erect), 3–5 mm dia., plane or slightly convex and sinuate, margin thin and disappearing, disc slightly darker than thallus, matt; hypothecium obscurely cellular, 40–45μ high; hymenium 65μ high, hyaline except for orange granular epithecium, paraphyses conglutinate, simple or furcate, 1½μ thick, clavate at tip; asci 40 × 13μ, thickened in upper part; spores broadly ellipsoid, 13–15 × 6–7½μ, r=0.4, pycnidia semi-immersed near margins of lobes, globose, 150μ dia., orange, pycnidiospores cylindrical (?) pseudoseptate, 3 × 1μ.

Habitat. On debris.

Distribution. Eastern Australia. Westland: Toaroha River, 3,000ft, Sc. 159.

Canterbury: Temuka, Mason, 256.

The species may be very local, as it has not been found in several other likely places in the South Island. The Temuka specimen is only a very small scrap, and could be an aberrant specimen of the following species, but the other collection of several plants agree exactly with Hillmann's description; the plant has much the apperance of a small delicate T. chrysophthalmus.

Teloschistes velifer Wilson.

Teloschistes velifer Wils., Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania 1892, 176 (1893).

(?) Physcia parietina var. lychnea Linds., Trans. Linn. Soc., 25, 518 (1866).

Xanthoria parietina var. spinulosa Mull. Arg. Bull. Herb. Boissier, II, app. 1, 40.

(1894) (not of Krempelhubei, 1868).

J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 32, 203 (1896).

(?) Teloschistes chrysophthalmus var. fornicatus Müll Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier, 4, 89 (1896).

Zahlbr., Lich. N.Z., 123 (1941).

Xanthoria spinulosa Hillm., Ann. Mycol., 10 (1922).

Zahlbr., Lich. N.Z. 122 (1941).

(?) Xanthoria parietina f. rutilans. Zahlbi. Lich. N.Z. 122 (1941).

Thallus ascending, erect to subfruticose, orange-yellow to orange-red, varying from individual plants 3 mm dia. and 2–3 mm high to small cushions up to 3 cm dia. and 1 cm high. Juvenile lobes yellow, stellate-radiate, more or less linear ascending at ends, flat (0.2-) 0.5 (-0.8) mm wide, di- or trichotomously divided white and smooth beneath with

yellow marginal (or rarely ventral) fibrils 0 5–1.5 mm long; mature lobes orange-red, erect, weakly bullate, hollow, 2–5 (-8) mm long with ends expanded to 2–3 mm wide, hooded and open-ended to expose the algal layer as greenish soredia, with few or no basal fibrils; upper cortex 15–35 (-50)μ thick, uneven, of more or less longitudinally arranged 1μ dia. conglutinate hyphae; algal layer discontinuous with scattered clumps of Trebouxia cells up to 15×13μ, medulla arachnoid, of 3μ dia hyphae, absent near hooded ends of lobes; lower cortex about 40μ thick, fibrous or hyphae forming a loose few called plectenchyma. Apothecia very rare, one per frond, 1–2 mm dia, at first broadly sessile on upper surface with prominent inrolled thalline margin, finally appearing terminal on 1–2 mm high striate pedicels and then moderately convex with excluded margin, disc orange-red, matt; hypothecium 5–15μ high, hyaline, not well delimited; hymenium 55–60μ high, paraphyses simple or furcate, 2μ dia., asci clavate, thickened in upper part, 50×12–14μ; spores ellipsoid with narrow ends, 10–13 x5½-6½μ, r=0.3–0.5; pycnidia not seen.

Habitat. On twigs, bark, wood, rocks, rarely dry soil.

Distribution. Tasmania, New Zealand. North Island: Waiotapu, Allison, 305 and 334; Hutt Valley (H. H. Allan) CHR; Marlborough: Molesworth, CHR. Westland: Kumara, Mr., 1277; Greymouth (Mackay, W50) CHR. Canterbury: Waipara (A. J. Healy, 58/491) CHR, Hurunui (A. J. Healy, 58/502) CHR; Cheviot (A. J. Healy) CHR; Castle Hill (Z 33) CHR; Godley Valley, 2,500ft, Sc 223 and 224, (H. H. Allan) CHR; Esk River, 2,300ft, Sc 42 (plants unusually large and finely laciniate); Lake Tekapo, Mason, 248 and 250: Otago. Lake Ohau (R. Jones) 1722; Pigroot, T 1421; Shag Valley, T 1422. (and as H4 in CHR under T. chrysophthalmus var. fornicatus); Patearoa T 1378 (=H2 in CHR as T. chrys var. fornicatus); Lamb Hill, T 263 (and in CHR as X. parietina var. rutilans; Mihiwaka 1,000ft, Mr., 481; Waikouaiti, T 1849, Dunedin, T 898 (=H3 in CHR); Mr., 1129, 1223, Abbot's Hill, 1,200ft, 1605; Taieri, T 124 (=ZA 55 in CHR), T 1007 (=H61 in CHR); Maungatua, Mr., 1153; Taieri Mouth, 1294, 1372, 1446, 1699; Conical Hills (G. B. Rawlings) CHR. Southland. Forest Hill, 027, 033; Invercargill, Mr., 6917; Waihopai, Mr., 5415, Mr., 5417; Stewart Island Table Hill, Mr., 770.

There is evident confusion over the correct name for this very characteristic species. Zahlbruckner, in his Cat Lichenum Universalis, seems to have followed Du Rietz in identifying the New Zealand plant with Parmelia spinosa Hook. f. & Tayl., but Hooker himself later stated (1855, p. 287) that their species was identical with P. sieberiana Laur (i. e., Teloschistes sieberianus). Assuming this to be correct (compare Hillmann, 1922, 1930), Krempelhuber's is the first valid name for the species. Zahlbruckner in his Lich. N.Z. incorrectly cited the species as Xanthoria spinulosa (Hook. f. & Tayl.) D. Rietz, although the reference specimens in CHR are labelled X. spinosa Du Rietz. Apparently when Hillmann monographed the Xanthoriae he did not find Krempelhuber's material and depended on a specimen identified by Müller Argau. Although Hillmanns, description of Müller Argau's specimen confirms that it belongs to the present species, it does not clearly agree with Krempelhuber's account, which could equally apply to T. fasciculatus and perhaps other species.

I have not seen Müller Argau's description of T. chrysophthalmus var. fornicatus, but in any case this name would be predated by Teloschistes velifer Wils. (1892). Wilson's description of Tasmanian material is unmistakeable, although he gives details of the apothecia despite the statement that the specimens were sterile! The near absence of the species from older New Zealand collections is surprising, but may be due to its apparent rarity in the North Island, it is quite common in Otago and Southland. Du Rietz suggested that this species might belong in Teloschistes., although he had apparently seen no specimens, and in fact the structure of the cortex clearly relates it to this genus. Juvenile specimens of velifer, sieberianus fasciculatus and even chrysophithalmus are not easily separated. Fruiting specimens