P. Caninâ

Peltigera nigripunctata Bitt.

Peltigera nigripunctata Bitt. Berichte Deutsch. Bot. Ges., 27, 194 (1909).

Peltigera nigripunctata Bitt. f. farinosa Gyeln., Annal Cryptog. exot. 4, 168 (1932), and Rev. Bryol. et Lichen., 5, 61, 69 (1932).

This is a Javan species which should be easily recognized by the characters given in the key. The form farinosa is based on a specimen collected by Berggren in 1874 in New Zealand (locality not stated) and now in the Uppsala Herbarium as “P. venosa, Berggren 39”. It is not mentioned by Hellborn (1896) who described Berggren's New Zealand lichens. Gyelnik's form “differt thallo superne partim mcuso” seems a trivial modification not worth retaining. P. nigripunctata apparently differs from P. venosa only in having cephalodia on the upper surface as well as the lower, but I have seen neither specimens nor a complete description.

Peltigera scutata (Dicks) Duby.

Peltigera scutata (Dicks) Duby, Bot Gallic II, 599 (1830).

Peltigera polydactyla var. scutata Müll. Arg., J. Linn. Soc. Bot 32, 201 (1896).

Thallus medium sized, curled at edges, grey to brown, slightly scabrid to smooth, commonly prumose at tips of lobes and with masses of grey soredia on the margins. Under surface without veins or with broad brownish veins and yellowish interspaces. Rhizines short and fasciculate. Apothecia up to 3 mm dia, horizontal or erect, hymemnium up to 200μ thick, spores 3–7 septate, 30–70 × 3–5½μ (Description abbreviated from Thomson, 1950).

Habitat. Logs, rocks.

Distribution. Eurasia, North America, Peru, Chile, New Zealand.

Exsiceata Seen. Lich. suecici (Du Rietz), Fl. suecica (Sandberg). The species is reported from Napier (Colenso, 1658) by Müller, but I have seen no New Zealand specimens, nor is it in the Colenso lichen collection in Wellington.

Peltigera virescens (Stnr.) Gyeln.

• Peltigera rufescens var. virescens Steiner apud Zahlbr. et Zederb., Annal. Naturhist. Hofmuseum Wien, 20, 372 (1907).

• Peltigera virescens Gyelnik, Rev. Bryol. et Lich, 5, 73 (1932).

• et apud Zahlbr. Lich. N. Z. 46 (1941).

• Peltigera degeni f. tasmaniae Gyel., Magy Bot. Lapok, 28, 61 (1929).

• ?=Peltigera virescens var. tasmaniae Gyelnik apud Zahlbruckner.

• Lich. N. Z., 46 (1941).

• Peltigera tereziana Gyelnik, Oesterr Bot. Zeitschr, 77, 220 (1928)

• ? Peltigera pellucida f. dilacerata Gyeln. apud Zahlbr. Lich. N. Z., 46 (1941).

Thallus 3–10 cm dia, lobes 10–25 mm long, 3–10 wide, grey-green, smooth, glabrous, veins forming an anastomosing network, raised and narrow, rhizines usually tapering, simple but with some fasciculate and short (less than 3 mm long); interspaces between veins thinly tomentose. Cortex 25μ, algal layer about 40μ, medulla 200–300μ of fairly loosely woven hyphae 7½μ dia. Apothecia vertical on extended lobules, mostly about 3–5 × 2–4 mm; hymenium 100μ thick, including pale brown epithecium, hypothecium brown, 50μ thick; asci 65–95 × 15μ, apparently 6-spored; spores very pale yellow, 3–5 septate, straight or arcuate, 50–95 × 2½–3μ.

Habitat. Logs, stones, moss in damp places.

Distribution. North America, Europe, Australasia. North Island: Tiritea (G2 Zotov, pr. p.) CHR; (Chamberlain, sub P. dolichorhiza) CHR. Marlborough: Onamaluta, Mr. 4214 (pr p.); Waihopai, Mr. 4211 (pr p). Canterbury: Godley

River, 4,000ft, Sc 285. Westland. Franz Josef (C. K. Boey), 4166. Otago: Haast Pass (R. F. Smith), 1182; Trotter's Gorge, T 1400; Flagstaff, 1,000ft, T 732 (and as G21 in CHR sub P. virescens var. tasmaniae); Dunedin, T 1395, T 1071, T 1072; Taieri Mouth, 1423, 1676.

Exsiccata Seen. Fl. Hung. (Filarszky, sub P. pellucida)

A specimen from Jamaica (Plitt) distributed as P. virescens from Gyelink's Herb Lich., has uniformly short fasciculate rhizines, and thus cannot be this species.

This species seems to be commonly known as P. degent Gyelnik, but the name virescens clearly has priority if the species are truly identical. Gyelnik's variety tasmaniae, according to his description and the specimen in CHR (G21) is merely a rather short lobed fruiting form, such as may be found in several species P. pellucida f dilacerata Gyelnik according to the description is identical with virescens, although Thomson (1950) lists it as a synonym of P. polydactyla. P. Lairdii described by Dodge and Rudolph (1955) from Macquarie Id is supposed to resemble P. dilacerata but is tomentose above, and must thus actually be in the P. Canina group I have not seen the original description of P. dilacerata which was founded on a specimen from Auckland P. Tereziana, founded on a specimen from Wellington, is a pusilloid form of virescens according to the mention in Gyelnik (1931, 1932), although it is listed as a synonym of P. canina var. spuria by Thomson (1950), and is said to resemble P. frigida according to Santesson(1944)

It is possible that P. virescens might be best regarded as a variety of dolichorhiza, since the character of the thickness of the veins is the only clear distinction in non-fruiting specimens, and sometimes the veins are in part like those of the latter species In one of my Otago specimens (1423) some of the lobes have traces of white tomentum at the edges, and this plant may belong in the canina group.

Peltigera horizontalis (Huds) Baumg. var. muscorum (Schl.) Schaer.

Peltigera muscorum Schleich (1823) ? in sched.

peltigera horizontalis var. muscorum Schaer, Lich Helvet Spicil, (5) 265 (1833)

Peltigera horizontalis Hellborn, Bihang Kgl. Svensk Vebensk Akad Handl, 21, III (13), 29 (1896)

Thallus flat, to 8 cm dia., yellowish-green or brownish-green, lobes 1½ cm long by ½ cm wide, glabrous, somewhat shining; cortex 40–60μ thick, outer cells 13 × 8μ, algal layer 50–110μ thick, algae mostly 8 × 6μ, medulla 140μ thick, of septate hyphae 4–10½μ dia., lower surface with broad, flat anastomosing veins, rhizines sparse, dark, fasciculate and short. Apothecia on broad horizontal lobules, 2–5 mm dia., distinctly raised above thalline margin; hypothecium reddish-brown, 10–30μ, hymenium 70–95μ thick, paraphyses 2½ thick asci 6–8-spored, spores uniformly 3-septate, hyaline to light brownish, 26–32 (-38) × 5½–8μ, sometimes slightly constricted at middle septum.

Habitat. On soil (in New Zealand)

Distribution. North Temperate Zone, New Zealand Marlborough. Avon Valley, Mr. 4245, Mr. 6918 Canterbury Waipara (Allan), Godley Valley, 2,400ft, Sc 203; 4,300ft, Sc 202; Lake Tekapo, Mason, 43 and 54 Otago Matukituki Valley (R. F. Smith) 0966, Lake Ohau, Mason, 177a.

Zahlbruckner in Cat Lich Univ and Thomson (1950) both reduce the varety to formal rank, the latter stating that it is variable and inconstant and occurs throughout the range of the species European forms of horzontalis which I have seen, however, are different from the New Zealand specimens, being much larger and thicker, with broad lobes (up to 3 cm) and considerably larger apothecia with distinctly longer spores (30–40μ) Consequently I have preferred to retain the variety Hellbom's plant from Porter's Pass evidently also belongs here Peltigera frigida. Santesson (1944) from South America seems very close to the New Zealand specimens of horizontalis var. muscorum, but apparently differs in having radiating veins, thinner cortex and longer, narrower spores.

Peltigera horizontalis var. muscorum f. albido-pruinosa Murray, f. nov.

A varietate differt thallo superne dense albido-pruinoso, planta minima.

Thallus of more or less separate lobes, 3–8 mm long by 2–4 mm wide, mostly densely white pruinose above but with some patches of smooth surface; with broad pale brownish veins below; cortex 75–100μ high, hyaline of plectenchyma with cells up to 25 × 15μ and with thin irregular decomposed outer layer. Apothecia 3–4 mm dia., dark brown, epruinose; hypothecium brown, 25μ thick, hymenium 95μ high with pale, thin epithecium, spores broadly fusiform, 3-septate, 32 × 8μ, hyaline.

Distribution Otago: Matukituki Valley, 4,000ft (D. Scott), 4389 (on soil among scree)

The plant looks very like Santesson's illustration of Peltigera frigida (1944), from which it differs particularly in the pruina and thick cortex. The collection is quite distinct from other specimens of P. horizontalis but may be only an extreme habitat form.

Peltigera polydactyla (Neck) Hoffm var. polydactyla.

• Lichen polydactylon Neck, Method Muscor 85 (1771)

• Peltigera polydactyla Hoffm, Descript et Adumbr Plant Lich, 19 (1790), Bab. in.

• Hook Fl. N. Z. 271 (1855)

• Hellb, Bihang Kgl. Svensk Vetensk Ada Handl 21, III (13) 28 (1896)

• Hook, Handb N. Z. Flora, 566 (1867)

• Buch, Trans. N. Z. Inst, 6, 231 (1873)

• Kirk, Trans. N. Z. Inst 4, 235 (1871). Muller, J. Linn Soc. Bot, 32, 201 (1896)

• Peltigera polydactyla f minor Krmph, Reise Oesterr Fregatt Novara, Bot Vol II, 121 (1870).

? Peltidea polydactyla, Hook Fl Antarctica, l, 197 (1844)

Thallus up to 20 cm dia., commonly of more or less detached lobes 3–8 cm long by about 1½ cm wide, grey, grey-green or brownish, smooth and glabrous above sometimes with somewhat impressed or undulating surface (corresponding to veins beneath) and usually ascending margins Lower surface white to brown with veins ½–1½ mm wide and 02 mm high, carrying mostly short fasciculate rhizines or occasionally some simple ones Cortex 30–35μ of about 4 cell rows, algal layer (10-) 30 (-65)μ, medulla (150-) 250–450μ of loosely woven hyphae 8–15μ dia., with cell walls 2½μ thick Apothecia more or less round, 2–5 mm dia. with thin crenate margin, hymenium 100–150μ, including the pale brownish epithecium, hypothecium brown, 35–65 (-100)μ thick, asci 80–100 × 12–20μ, spores acicular (3-) 5–9 septate, light brownish, straight to slightly arcuate, 50–80 × 3–4μ

Habitat. In damp places on soil, logs, stones, etc.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan; North Island Orongaronga R. (Allan), CHR (pr p), Wellington (KG11) CHR Nelson. Hundalee, Mr. 1306. Marlborough: Pelorus Bridge, Mr. 4168. Canterbury Craigieburn Range, 5,500ft (A. F. Mark), 4163 Westland Greymouth, Mr. 5422, Styx River, 2,100ft, Scott, 141; Fox Glacier (J. M. Anderson), 0744 Otago: Dunedin, Mr. 5426; Mihiwaka, Mr. 706 (pr p), Mt. Cargill, Mr. 5423 (pr p), Mt. Flagstaff, 1,000ft, 1980; Taieri Mouth, 1261, 1464, 1666, 1667, 1672; Southland; Tautuky Bay, 1025 Stewart Island: Port Pegasus, Mr. 5424 (or dolichorhiza var. nana) Chatham Islands: (Colenso, 19) WELT.

Exsiccata Seen. Swed. Lich. (Magnusson, 13788), Boros Lich. Fl. exsicc austrohung No. 41.

P. polydactyla has been frequently reported from New Zealand, and is probably not uncommon, although it is evidently less so than the closely related P. dolichorhiza. Probably many of the early reports actually refer to the latter species. Like most wide-ranging species it is variable, and it has been noted (e.g., by Nylander, 1860) that the New Zealand specimens are distinctly smaller lobed and thinner than the European forms and have a more impressed surface when dry. On this account our plants were distinguished as f minor by Krempelhuber Although this was reduced to synonymy with f. microcarpa (Ach.) Merat by Thomson (1950), the forms are

evidently different. The latter differs from the typical form in the narrower (but not necessarily thinner) lobes and small (2 mm dia.) apothecia, whereas f minor has thinner lobes and small apothecia A few of the specimens listed above have rather thin thalli with impressed upper surfaces, and presumably belong in f minor Kremph. The dimensions of the cortex and algal layer are the same as in more typical specimens Small apothecia which appear on many specimens are immature and are not clearly associated with thinner thalli. I have not thought it worth separating these as a distinct form.

Some New Zealand specimens have lacerate margins in part, and thus correspond to f lophyra (Ach.) Nyl This seems a trivial modification hardly worthy of recognition, the condition is sometimes seen on parts of otherwise normal plants One specimen from Dunedm, Mr. 5426, has abundant 10 mm long black rhizines but is not otherwise different from normal.

There seems no doubt that P. polydactyla is endemic to New Zealand both because of early reports which describe it as common, and because our specimens are usually distinguishable from European or American forms by their generally thinner thalli and narrower lobes.

Peltigera polydactyla var. magyarica (Gyelnik) Murray comb. nov.

Peltzgera magyarzca Gyelnik, Ann. Musei. Nat Hung. Pars Bot., 31, 46 (1937)

This is similar to the species but is usually thicker than the typical form in New Zealand and has smaller, more or less cochleate lobes and few rhizmes below it is often fruiting freely.

Habitat. On clay banks.

Distribution Europe, New Zealand, North America North Island-Mangarakau, T 2630, Huia, Auckland University Botany Department Otago: Matukituki Valley, 1,700ft (D Scott et al) 4388, Dunedm, 1936; Taieii Mouth, 1385, 1502.

Distinguished by the above characters, this has the appearance of a habitat form, but two of the quoted specimens I found growing within a few centimetres of normal plants of P. polydactyla and dolichorhiza. It seems to be of rare occurrence and is perhaps not a good variety. It is not very different from small specimens of the following variety.

• Peltigera polydactyla var. polydactyloides (Nyl) Maas Gest. in sched?

• Peltigera polydactyloides Nyl., Flora, 46, 265 (1863)

• Peltigera crassotdes Gyeln, Magy Bot. Lapok 29, 51 (1930)

• Peltigera polydactyla var. hymrenzna Auct (non Ach.)

• ? Peltigera pusilla Zahlbr. Lich N. Z., 45 (1941)

Plants usually rather small with ascending or incuiled edges, underside with a mo e or less continuous tomentum and the veins absent or very indistinct (except sometimes cntrally) rhizines usually few but sometimes clustered m the centre, cortex 30μ, algal laye 25–50μ medulla 350–450μ of loosely woven hyphae 8–10μ dia. Apothecia sare, hymcnuin ca 100μ thick, hypothecium brown, 50μ thick; spores 7–9 septate, 60μ or more long (ripe spores not seen)

Habitat. On soil or logs, often in dry or alpine situations.

Distribution. Apparently as for the species. Canterbury Upper Godley Valley, 5,200ft, Scott 158. Otago: Merton, 3899; Dunedm, 1934, 3543, Ravensbourne, 1181, 1976, Sandymount, T 1773 (and in CHR as ZA 523 sub P. pusilla), Maungatua, 1,000ft, Mr. 925 (pr. p.), 3,000ft, 0515, Walporn, T 196; Taierl Mouth, 1673, 1675. Southland: Manapour (D Hamilton), 0717., Riverton, T 797.Exstccata SEEN No. 1944–29, ex Herb. R. D. Hoogland, in Auckland University Botany Department.

This does not seem to be a habitat form since specimens are sometimes growing with the typical form of the species and the difference between them is quite marked. It is not a growth form, since specimens 1181 and 1976 are collections from the

same plant taken five years apart. Possibly the variety is produced by an abnormally slow growing plant, since the veined surface in Peltigera is in large part due to separation of the lower surface by the more rapidly growing algal layer and cortex. Specimen 1976 had almost doubled in size in four years, which is about the usual lifetime for Peltigera species. The Sandymount specimen T 1773 certainly has the appearance of P. pusilla (P. canina var. spuria) but lacks any trace of tomentum; it could equally well be a small specimen of var. magyarica. The specimens under this variety name are not very homogenous, the size of the lobes varying from 15 mm in diameter to 3 mm. So far as I can discover Maas Geesteranus' combination has not been published.

Peltigera dolichorhiza Nyl. var. dolichorhiza.

Peltigera polydactyla var. dolichorhiza Nyl., Synops. Lich. Vol I, 327 (1860).

Muller, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 32, 201 (1896)

Peltigera dolichorhiza Nyl., Lich. N. Z., 43 (1888)

Hellb, Bihang Kgl. Svensk Vetensk. Akad. Handl., 21, III.

(13), 29 (1896)

Zahlbr., Lich. N. Z., 46 (1941)

Peltigera dolichorhiza f javanica Gyelnik, Nyt Mag Naturvidenskap, 68, 269 (1930 et apud Zahlbr. Lich. N. Z. 46 (1941)

Thallus as for P. polydactyla f minor except that the rhizines are up to 10 mm long, simple and tapering, usually dark coloured; cortex 25–30μ thick, algal layer 25–35μ, medulla 180–240μ of rather compact hyphae 8μ dia. Apothecia about 3 mm dia., hymenium 100–130μ high, hypothecium rather dark brown, 35–70μ thick, asci 4–6 spored, spores brownish when mature, (3-) 5–7 (-9) septate, 50–80 × 3–4μ.

Habitat In damp localities on soil, mosses, logs, rarely stones, etc.

Distribution. New Zealand, North and Tropical America, Australia and probably elsewhere in the southern hemisphere. North Island: Whangarei (Given) CHR, (?) Volcanic Plateau (Attwood) CHR; Maungatawhiri (G20 Moore) CHR; Tiritea (G1 Chamberlain, 2 coll. and Allan) CHR; Pirongia (W12 Allan) CHR; Kaingaroa Plain, Allison 246, Wairarapa (Colenso 403) (Colenso 2591) WELT; Kahuraamake (Colenso 2904) WELT Nelson: Korere (Allan) CHR; Hundalee, Mr. 1301 Marlborough: Pelorous Bridge, Mr. 1337. Westland: Greymouth, Mr. 6882 Canterbury. Waipara (G50, Moore sub P. dolichorhiza f. javanica) CHR; Hermitage, 3,000ft, Sc 291; Otago. Kaituna, T 1955, Haast Pass, 0954; Huxley River, 1848, Trotter's Gorge, T 1400 (pr p); Leith Valley, Mr. 749, T 1740 (pr. p) and in CHR (G53), Abbott's Hill, T 936, T 949, Lee Stream, 0695; Flagstaff, 1,500ft, Mr. 1150 (pr p); Taieri Mouth, 1384, 1670, 1674 Southland: Mackinnon Pass, 3,000ft, T 2900 (unusually broad lobes); Doubtful Sound, T 2879, T 2885, 3945, Forest Hill, 0392, Riverton, T 793 Stewart Island Oban, Mr. 78; Wilton's Bush, Mr. 5425.

Exsiccata Seen Gyelnik Herb. Lich. (Jamaica, Plitt) (Thallus thicker than in New Zealand specimens)

Nylander's original spelling of the species name with a single “r” was changed to “rr” in 1888 The difference between polydactyla and dolichorhiza is perhaps hardly enough to justify separation at the species level, but nevertheless is remarkably constant and I have not been in doubt about assigning more than a very few of the specimens to one or the other species. Since dolichorhiza was not segregated till 1860, and it is apparently the commonest member of the genus in New Zealand, it is more than likely that the early records of P. polydactyla refer in large part to dolichorhiza. The polydactyla-dolichorhiza complex is in need of controlled growth studies to ascertain the constancy of the taxa listed as varieties. It is a reasonable suspicion that they are not, in which case the best treatment may be to leave the latter as a variety of polydactyla and reduce the varieties to the rank of forms or to synonymy. It seems not without significance that parallel pusilloid, thinner or

obscurely-veined varieties are found in each of the species virescens, polydactyla, dolichorhiza and canina Gylenik's f javanica is merely a freely fruiting form.

Peltigera dolichorhiza var. nana (? Nyl.) Murray comb. nov.

Peltigera polydactyla var. nana Nyl., in sched sec Knight Peltigera nana Wainio, Philipp J. Sci, 8, 114 (1913) and Gyelnik, Ann Mus Nat Hung, 30, 132 (1936) Zahlbr. Lich. N. Z., 45 (1941)

Peltigera nana f nervosa Gyelink apud Zahlbr., Lich. N. Z. 45 (1941) Thallus thinner than for dolichorhiza, more or less shining, light reddish-brown or green above with reddish veins and rhizines below, cortex 30μ, algal layer 25–38μ thick, medulla 70–100μ thick of rather compact layers of hyphae 5μ in dia. Apothecia 3–5 mm dia., hymenium 90–110μ thick, hypothecium brown, 50μ thick, asci 4–6-spored, spores yellowish, 3–5 (-7) septate, mostly 65 × 4μ

Habitat On mosses and plant debris in damp places.

Distribution Philippines, New Zealand, ? Jamaica North Island Little Barrier Island (G52, Hamilton, sub P. nana f venosa) CHR, Hen Islands (Moore) CHR; Mohikinui (Allan), CHR, Papataki, CHR, Awakino, CHR, Wellington (Allan), CHR, Totara Reserve, CHR; Wai-iti Stream, CHR, Hawke's Bay (Colenso, 1671), WELT, Plimmerton (Knight, sub P. polydactyla var. nana Nyl.), WELT Westland. Greymouth, Mr. 5430, Lake Kaniere, Mr. 1349 Otago: Waitati, T 1893 and in CHR (G55), Mihiwaka, Mr. 921 Southland Freshwater Valley, T 3055, Doubtful Sound, T 2883, Waipai, Mr. 1304 Stewart Island Port William, Mr. 707.

Exsiccata Seen Gyeln. Lichenotheca (Jamaica, Plitt) sub P. nana var. meridiana (doubtful)

I have not been able to find whether Nylander's name has been published, but it appears several times on specimens in the Knight collection. Gyelnik (1936) combined his species P. meridiana from Jamaica with Wainio's from the Philippines, listing the Jamaican plant as a variety and making Wainio's species P. nana var. philippina (an illegitimate new name) The New Zealand plant from Waitati (CHR, G55) he listed merely as the species, it agrees very well with Wainio's and Gyelnik's descriptions, whereas the Jamaican specimen distributed by Gyelnik does not. The differences from var. dolichorhiza are usually fairly clearly marked, although some specimens—e g, T 2883, come close to var. dolichorhiza, so I have reduced the taxon in rank. The veins are usually of a light reddish colour not seen in var. dolichorhiza Gyelnik's nana f venosa according to the isotype specimen is scarcely distinguishable in venation from the more typical forms Some North Island specimens are nearly as thick as var. dolichorhiza but have the other characteristic features of var. nana.

Gyelnik (1931b) describes a Peltigera oceanica apparently from the Pacific Islands which is evidently only a pusilloid variety of dolichorhiza—probably it may be found also in New Zealand, although I have seen no specimens which are clearly referable to this.

Peltigera malacea (Ach.) Funck.

Peltidea malacea Ach, Synops Lich., 240 (1814)

Peltigera malacea Funck, Crypt Gewachse, heft 33, 5 (1827)

Hellborn, Bihang Kgl. Svensk Vetensk Akad Handl 21, III (13) 28 (1896)

Lobes up to 4 cm long by 2 cm wide, but usually considerably smaller, and lobes in alpine plants more or less pusilloid, tomentum sparse, mostly marginal and thallus shining in the centre Tomentum on undersurface brown Thallus rather soft, apothecia marginal, found, 4–8 mm dia., spores 3–5-septate, 58–74 × 5–6μ (Description adapted from Nylander (1860)

Habitat On mosses, usually in alpine situations.

Distribution Europe, Himalayas, North America, Kerguelen, New Zealand.

The species is reported from the Bealey River (Canterbury) and Papakauri (Auckland) by Hellborn (1896). I have not seen New Zealand specimens, but it should not be difficult to recognise. The tomentum on the upper surface may be almost absent, as in a specimen from Europe distributed in Gyelnik's Lichenotheca (Timko).

Peltigera canina (L) Willd var. canina

Lichen caninus L. Sp. Pl. 1149 (1753)

Peltigera canina Willd. Flora Berolinens., Prodom 347 (1787)

Thallus usually large, up to 20 cm across, with lobes (2-) 5 (-10) cm long by (½-)1–2 cm broad, grey-green sometimes turning yellowish or brownish-green in the herbarium. Upper surface dull, thinly tomentose particularly marginally, lower surface with white to brownish tomentum and rather narrow elevated veins bearing mostly simple rhizines, veins smooth to fibrillose. Cortex 25–30μ, algal layer 40–60μ, medulla (100-) 200–250μ of more or less parallel hyphae 5–8μ dia Apothecia on extended lobules, ca 4 mm dia; with thin crenulate margins, hypothecium reddish-brown 50μ thick; hymenium 100μ thick, asci 6–8 spored, more or less cylindrical; spores aciculai, hyaline or pale yellow, 3 (-5) septate, 45–70 × 3–4μ.

Habitat On soil, moss, logs, etc., in damp, shady places.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan. North Island: ? Ruakura, Allan, CHR; New Plymouth, Moore, CHR (thin, apparently f. membranacea); Tahuna (Colenso, 5017) WELT. Otago: Dunedin, T 1740 (pr. p., and in CHR G53), 1187 (pr. p.), 1935, 1973, Maungatua, 1,500ft, 0392a, Mr. 925 (pr. p.); Taieri Mouth, 1668, 1669. Southland: Eglinton, Rawlings CHR (KG10).

Exsiccata SEEN Lich. Suecici (Vrang), Fl. v. Bayern (Royer), Swed. Lich. (Magnusson 7619), Herb Schallert, Pl. reg. mag. (Dusen 260), Fl. Hung (Timkohy).

Peltigera canina has been variously split into forms, varieties and species on the basis of thallus thickness, character of tomentum, colour of veins and rhizines, size of lobes, presence of marginal lacerations, etc., until the list of synonyms includes at least 30 names. No doubt some of the published forms and varieties correspond to constant entities, but many certainly do not Thomson (1950) divides the North American material into var. albescens with white veins and rhizines and var. ulorrhiza with brown veins, but European and New Zealand specimens appear to form a continuous series in this respect according to the few examples I have seen, and I have not used these names.

Thomson also separated North American specimens with thinner thalh and a penicillate appearance of the veins as P. membranacea Nyl, distinctions which also seem difficult to maintain (compare Lindahl, 1953). According to Thomson the thickness of the medulla in P. canina is 300–500μ and in P. membranacea is 70–110μ, but several of the above European specimens of canina come between these ranges and one (Magnusson 7619, Swed. Lich.) has both smooth and penicillate veins in the same specimen. New Zealand specimens of canina are distinguished from European by their generally thinner, narrower lobes, and closely resemble Schallert's and Dusen's American specimens. A penicillate appearance of veins and rhizines is sometimes shown by our specimens of var. canina and var. rufescens, but it is not constant even in the same specimen Variations of this sort are similarly apparent in New Zealand specimens of P. polydactyla; I have seen no specimens in either of these species approaching the large size apparently common in Europe.

It has been noted in other cases that distinctions between certain lichen species or varieties may be clear-cut in one country but not in another, and this phenomenon may explain the different treatments of the P. canina complex in North America and in Europe. The fact that New Zealand specimens of P. canina do not match the European forms exactly favours the assumption that the species is truly indigenous.

A specimen from Doubtful Sound (3946) seems to belong to the P. canina complex, although it differs from all varieties or species of which I have seen descriptions. The lobes resemble those of canina, but have a few sorediate spots, while the undersurface has no distinct rhizines but caninaeform veins with a 2 mm thick mat of loose anastomosing hyphae. It is sterile, so I have preferred not to describe it as new in the meantime.

• Peltigera canina var. rufescens (Weis) Mudd.

• Lichen caninus var. rufescens Weis., Plant Cryptog Flor Goettigens, 79 (1770)

• Peltigera canina var. rufescens Mudd., Manual Brit. Lich. 82 (1861)

• Peltigera rufescens Humb., Fl. Friburg Specim, 2 (1793) Bab in Hook Fl. N. Z.

• Vol. II., 271 (1855)

• Linds, Trans. Linn. Soc. 25, 521 (1866). Nyl., Synops Lich Vol. 1, 325 (1860)

• J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 9, 246 (1865)

• Hellborn, Bihang Kgl. Svensk Vetensk Akad. Handl. 21, III (13) 28 (1896)

Peltigera rufescens var. spuria Hooker, Handb N. Z. Fl 566 (1867)

Thallus 3–12 cm dia., with lobes 5–25 mm long by 5–12 mm wide, brownish or reddishbrown, veins dark-brown to nearly white but lighter near the periphery., other characters as in var. canina, but tips of lobes sometimes more scabrid than tomentose.

Habitat. Mossy banks, rocks and logs, in more open situations than var. canina.

Distribution. Probably cosmopolitan. North Island: Waitakere, 3456, Wellington. Allan (CHR, pr. p.) Marlborough Waihopai, Mr. 4211 (pr. p.), Onamalutu, Mr. 4214 (pr. p.) Otago: Waikouaiti, T 2483, Dunedm and vicinity, T 733, T 2324 (and in CHR), Mr. 5421, 038, 0391, 1213, 1214, 1977., Mihiwaka, Mr. 706 (pr p), Mt. Cargill, 3782, 3783, Mr. 5423; Flagstaff, 1,500ft, Mr. 1137; Taieri Beach; 1424; Akatore, 1556, Campbell Island Oliver (WELT 7) (uncertain)

Although the differences between var. canina and var. rufescens are difficult to express quantitatively, they are usually easily seen in both fresh and herbarium specimens, and most of the specimens in a moderate-sized collection can be placed in one or other variety without hesitation. Besides the generally smaller size of the lobes and the brittleness of var. rufescens, there is a definite habitat difference, although occasionally they can be found growing together. This is the case also in Europe according to Lindahl (1953). This is certainly the commonest form of P. canina in New Zealand, as it is also in North America In alpine situations it has a thicker thallus with ascending or mrolled crisp margins and dark veins (e. g., Mr. 1137, from Flagstaff). In Europe it has evidently been confused with var. canina, and Central European specimens. I have seen distributed as P. rufescens can mostly be referred to P. canina var. canina (e. g., Flor Hungarica Nos. 75 and 227 and specimens from Budapest and Bucharest Museums)

The specimen from Campbell Island (WELT 7) does not exactly match any I have seen from the mainland, most of the lobes are longer than normal with relatively broad and little elevated veins, which have an appearance intermediate between those of rufescens and dolichorhiza Peltigera coloradoensis Gyelnik (1930)is a species like rufescens but with polydactylaeform veins and fasciculate rhizines (although Thomson (1950) treats it as synonymous with var. rufescens) and thus differs from the Campbell Id specimen only in the nature of the rhizines Pending further collections from Campbell Id I have left this specimen under var. rufescens

Specimens of P. canina var. rufescens are sometimes attacked by the fungus Illosporium carneum Fr. which forms small pink powdery spots on the upper surface; old specimens of the fungus can be mistaken for soredia.

Peltigera canina (L) Willd var. spuria (Ach.) Schaer.

• Lichen spurius Ach., Lichenogr Suec Prodom 159 (1798)

• Peltigera canina var. spuria Schaer, Lich Helvet Spicil (6), 265 (1833)

• Peltigera pusilla Muller, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 32, 201 (1896)

• Peltigera rufescens Hook, Handb. N. Z. Fl. 566 (1867)

• Peltigera canina var. pusilla Bab in Hook., Fl. N. Z., 271 (1855)

• Peltigera rufescens var. spuria, Kirk. Trans. N. Z. Inst., 4, 235 (1871)

Plant varying from single small cochleate lobes 3 mm in dia to thalli 15–20 mm across, lobes ascending with incurled margins and small apothecia on short lobules, tomentum often restricted to margins.

Habitat Clay banks, alpine localities, usually in dry places.

Distribution. Probably cosmopolitan North Island. Napier (Colenso) WELT Canterbury Godley Valley, 6,200ft, Scott 156 Otago Haast Pass (R. F. Smith) 0937, Ravensbourne, 0596.

Exsiccata Seen. Fl. Suecica (Hülphers) (sub P. spuria).

Although commonly considered a separate species, this has every appearance of being a habitat form, although I have not seen specimens intermediate between this and var. rufescens or var. canina. The microscopic characters do not differ from those of var. rufescens.

Peltigera canina (L) Willd var. spuria (Ach.) Schaer f. sorediata

Schaer., Enumer. Critic. Lich. Europ. 20 (1850)

As for var. spuria but with small round spots of coarse greyish-blue or greyish-green soredia, like eroded places.

Habitat and Distribution. As for the variety. Canterbury: Lake Tekapo, Mason, 10 Otago Maitland Valley, 1734, Flagstaff, 1,000ft, 0900; Taieri Mouth, 1671.

Exsiccata Seen Swed. Lich. (Magnusson, 13735) (sub P. erumpens). Although there is a considerable number of synonyms at the species level for this form there now seems little doubt that it is no more than a growth form of the variety (of Thomson, 1950 and Dahl, 1950).

The earliest valid name for this form would seem to be Peltigera canina var. sorediifera Schaer, but I have not been able to see the relevant literature.

Peltigera praetextata (Flk.) Wain.

Peltidea ulorrhiza var. praetextata Flk. apud Sommerf., Suppl. Flor. Lappon, 123 (1826)Peltigera praetextata Wain, Termeszetr Fuzetek, 22, 306 (1899). Peltigera nitens f zeelandica Gyeln, Bot Lapok, 28, 60 (1929)

Thallus about 8 cm dia, with lobes to 25 mm long by about 10 mm wide, brownish, with clusters of subsquamulose isidia along margins and imperfections on the upper surface and white scales near the tips of the lobes which curl downwards, veins elevated (caninaeform), whitish to brown, obscure near the margin and with a fuzzy appearance due to projecting hyphae rhiznes simple to more or less fasciculate. Other and miciroscopic characters identical with those of P. canina.

Habitat. On soil and damp rocks, etc.

Distribution. Eurasia, North America, Japan. Otago: Flagstaff, 1,500ft, Mr. 1150 (pr. p.), Mr. 1152 (pr. p.)

Exsiccata Seen. Fl. suecica (Hulphers), Swed Lich. (Magnusson, 11650). This species has been very variously treated by lichenologists recently. Thomson (1950) reduced it to a form of canina var. rufescens, remarking that it was merely a form of this variety with the edges regenerating after damage from “insect bites”, but Lindahl (1953) has shown from experiments on P. canina and rufescens that this is not so Sometimes, apparently, particular plants do not develop isidia, in which case they are hardly distinguishable from var. rufescens Although the species is usually described as “tomentose above”, Lindahl mentions the presence of scales, and the Otago plants are clearly scaly rather than tomentose under the microscope,

and are thus separable from most states of canina var. rufescens. The scales are formed by the growth of several adjacent cortical hyphae which fuse together to form a white mass 20–50μ square and about 30μ thick. The scales have rather the appearance of a decomposed areolate cortex In specimens of P. praetextata var. subcanina distributed by Gyelnik the tips of the lobes are minutely tomentose, and these may be more nearly related to P. canina. Lindahl (1953) reduces P. nitens (Anders) Gyelnik to synonymy with praetextata, but it is clearly regarded by Gyelnik as smooth above and thus close to P. virescens. The Otago specimens like Gyelnik's P. nitens f zeelandica have crisp margins, but I consider this appearance to be due to the plants growing in rather dry or alpine situations, particularly since similar forms are shown by all the Peltigera species under these conditions P. nitens f zeelandica was founded on one of Berggren's specimens (exact locality not stated)now in Stockholm, it is not impossible that it is a form of praetextata with the scales almost absent, as in some lobes of Mr. 1150.

Solorina Ach.

Thallus small foliose, corticate above, ecoiticate below and with indistinct veins and scattered rhizines below Algae commonly green and blue-green in the same thallus Apothecia immarginate, scattered over the upper surface, spores brown several celled.

The genus is predominantly Northern and African, and until now there has been only one record of it for New Zealand or Australia.

Solorina crocea (L) Ach.

Lichen croceus L., Sp. Pl., 1149 (1753)

Solorina crocea Ach., Lich. Univ. 149 (1810)

Du Rietz, S [ unclear: ] bot Tidskr 20, 300 (1926)

Ibid., Rept. Austral Ass. Ado. Sci. 628 (1928)

Thallus roundish, lobed, 1–10 cm dia, greenish brown above, copper-coloured below with indistinct subreticulate veins and a few rhizines, cortex 300–500μ thick, of vertical thick-walled hyaline hyphae about 4μ dia and containing pyramidal or tooth-like sections containing mostly small algae (said to be Dactylococcus) which reach almost to the surface Medulla and algal layer 300–600μ thick, of parallel, compactly layered hyphae 3–8μ dia coated with orange granules, K + purple Algal layer not clearly delimited, of small green algae mixed with scattered colonies and frequent more or less ovoid cephalodia containing Nostoc Apothecia oblong to round, plane, dark brown, not depressed, to 1 cm dia, hypothecium hyaline, 25μ thick, hymenium 125μ, hyaline with thin brownish epithecium, paraphyses simple, 2μ thick, conglutinate, asci 6–8-spored, spores 1-septate, hyaline becoming brownish, 26–34 × 8–10½μ, oblong-ellipsoid, sometimes slightly constricted at septum.

Habitat On soil in subalpine situations.

Distribution Eurasia, North America, Himalayas, New Zealand Canterbury Craigieburn Range, 5,500ft (A. F. Mark), 4162, Mount Peel, Allan (CHR), Godley River, 6,000ft, Sc 268, (D Scott) 4164 Otago Old Man Range, 5,000ft (D Billings, NZL) 4160.

Exsiccata Seen Schaer exsicc no 24 (WELT), Metzger (WELT), Lich. scand (Zetterstedt & Wickborn) (Otago Museum)

The New Zealand specimens are macroscopically indistinguishable from European S. crocea, although the spores are smaller and paler than reported for European plants (Nylander, 1860, gives the spores as 34–53 × 10–13μ). The occurience of S. crocea in New Zealand is of considerable phytogeographical interest since the nearest known report is from Java. It is curious that it was collected only once before 1959, despite the characteristic and striking appearance of the species. Although apparently not common, it is evidently widely distributed on the mountains of inland Otago and Canterbury, and can hardly have been introduced in recent times. If further collections sustain the spore differences seen (only one fruiting specimen, 4162, has been found), the New Zealand plants may prove to be taxonomically separable, and support a long isolation of the South Island lichen population.