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LICHENS FROM PART OF GREAT BARRIER ISLAND

by Glenys C. Hayward* and B.W. Haywardf

SUMMARY

Forty species from seventeen genera are recorded from Great Barrier Island. Most occurred in one of two main habitats — nine species of the epigean genera Cladonia and Cladia occur on soil beneath low manuka scrub; eight species from the family Stictaceae, together with species of Lecidea, Leptogium, Pertusaria, Psoroma, and , occur on bark beneath a dense forest canopy, whilst species of Ramalina, Parmelia, and Usnea are found on trees where light penetration is greater.

INTRODUCTION

A collection of lichen specimens was made by the senior author (G.C.H.) from part of Great Barrier Island during the A.U.F.C. scientific camp in August 1972. were collected mostly from two main habitats which are common in the area surrounding Whangaparapara. The first was epiphytic, with lichens growing on bark beneath a dense to semi-open forest canopy. Many lichens from this habitat were collected along an old logging track that runs up the valley at the head of Whangaparapara Harbour, though many were also noted, and a few collected, both north and south of this harbour. The second was epigean from soil and leaf litter beneath low manuka scrub. Once again this habitat was widespread, but most lichens were collected from beneath 0.5 to 1.5 m high manuka growing on an exposed ridge on the track immediately north of and above the Kaitoke hot springs.

SPECIES LIST

Nomenclature used is that of Martin and Child (1972), Martin (1966, 1969, 1971), and Murray (1963a, 1963b). Abbreviations used: Lichens found growing on bark (B), logs (L), rocks (R), soil (S), and clay bank (C) beneath manuka scrub (M), a dense forest canopy (F), or open-canopy (O). Two coastal lichens were found in the upper midlittoral (U) and the maritime zone (MZ).

*35A Mariri Rd., Onehunga tGeology Department, University of Auckland. 190

Cladoniaceae Baeomyces fungoides C,0 Cladonia gracilis S,M Cladonia borbonica S,M C. leptoclada S,M C. degenerans S,M, C. squamosa S,M C. floerkeana S,M C. subulata S,M Clathraceae Cladia aggregata S,M C. retipora C,S,M, Collemaceae Leptogium cf. saturninum B,F Lecideaceae Lecidea 2 spp. B,F and R,F Lichinaceae Lichina pygmaea var intermedia R,U Pannariaceae Psoroma asperellum B,F Parmelia borreri B,0 P. laevigata B,0 P. caperata B,0 P. tasmanica B,0 P. cetrata B,0 Peltigeraceae Peltigera polydactyla L,S,0 Pertusariaceae Pertusaria 2 spp. B,l Sphaerophoraceae Sphaerophorus cuneatus B,F S. melanocarpus B,F Stereocaulaceae Stereocaulon colensoi S,R,0 S. corticatulum S,R,0 Stictaceae Pseudocyphellaria aurata B,F Pseudocyphellaria sp. B,F P. carpoloma B,F Sticta caperata B,F P. episticta B,F S. latifrons B,F P. muelleriana B,F S. subcaperata B,F Teleoschistaceae Xanthoria parietina R,MZ Usneaceae Ramalina ecklonii B,0 Usnea 2 spp. B,0 R. menziesii B,R,0

LICHEN ASSOCIATIONS

1. Epigean association beneath manuka scrub Soil and leaf litter beneath low manuka scrub on an exposed ridge several score metres above the Kaitoke Swamp, in the vicinity of the Kaitoke hot springs, supports a flourishing lichen flora. Nine species from only two genera were found. Two Cladia species are common - the white coral lichen C. retipora and the spinose-pointed C. aggregata. Seven Cladonia species are present and 191 include swards of the "reindeer moss" C. leptoclada, patches of the scarlet-fruited C. floerkeana, the scyphose C. degenerans, the squamulose C. squamosa, and also C. borbonica, C. gracilis, and C. subulata. Four other epigean lichens were collected. The pink-fruited Baeomyces fungoides was found growing on clay banks on the sides of several old logging tracks beneath an open canopy, and often in association with Cladia retipora. The other three also occur beneath an open canopy; Peltigera polydactyla on rotting logs and mossy soil, and Stereocaulon colensoi and S. corticatulum on a thin veneer of soil overlying rocks.

2. Epiphytic associations beneath a forest canopy. An association rich in species, belonging to the family Stictaceae, occurs on the bark of tree trunks beneath a dense forest canopy in the valley at the head of Whangaparapara Harbour. Lichens commonly present are the large stipitate Sticta latifrons, S. caperata (with its orange disc-like apotheca) and S. subcaperata; the golden sorediate species Pseudocyphellaria aurata; and also P. carploma, P. episticta and P. muelleriana. Other epiphytic shade-tolerant lichens found were the lead-grey foliose Leptogium cf. saturninum, the squamulose Psoroma asperellum, with abundant orange apotheca, the fruticose species Sphaerophorus cuneatus and S. melanocarpus, two species of Pertusaria and one of Lecidea. In addition to the above epiphytic lichens, others found where the forest canopy is less complete, and light penetration subsequently greater, are species of the fruticose genera Ramalina and Usnea, as well as species of the foliose Parmelia—P. borreri, P. caperata, P. cetrata, P. laevigata, and P. tasmanica. One species of the crustose Lecidea was found on the occasional rock beneath the forest canopy, and Ramalina menziesii sometimes occurs on rocks beneath a more open canopy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to thank Mr J.E. Braggins for critically reading the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Martin, W. 1966: The Parmeliaceae of N.Z. and a key to indigenous species of Parmelia. Tuatara 14(1): 7-12. Martin, W. 1969: Key to the Stictaceae of N.Z. Tuatara 17(3): 106-17. Martin, W. 1971: Chemical aids to species recognition in the lichen genus Cladonia. Tuatara 79(1): 6-11. Martin, W.; Child, J. 1972: "Lichens of New Zealand". A.H. and A.W. Reed. 193 pp. Murray, J. 1963a: Keys to New Zealand Lichens, Part 2. Tuatara 77(1): 46-56. Murray, J. 1963b: Keys to New Zealand lichens, Part 3. Tuatara 11(2): 98-109. 192