Ramalina geniculata
Synonyms
Ramalina inflata var. gracilis
Family
Ramalinaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Fruticose
Current conservation status
2018 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: DP
Brief description
Characterised by the corticolous (occasionally saxicolous) habit; fully inflated branches with oval perforations; and convex apothecia.
Distribution
North Island: Northland (Houhura Harbour) to South Auckland (Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula), Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington.
Habitat
Best developed N of Auckland on both mainland and offshore island coastal sites, where it is found most commonly on mānawa (Avicennia marina subsp. australasica). Known also from tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa), Crataegus*, kānuka (Kunzea sp.), Lophomyrtus, pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), Phyllocladus, Pittosporum, Plagianthus, tōtara (Podocarpus totara), Poplulus sp.*, pine (Pinus radiata)*, Prunus sp.*, Salix sp.* and also from rocks (especially on offshore islands).
Detailed description
Thallus loosely tufted, to 3 cm tall, of dichotomously branched laciniae to 1.5 mm broad at base, narrowing to 0.3 mm wide at tips, slightly flattened or rarely subterete, smooth or in places obscurely faveolate but not canaliculate, ± fistulose, here and there with rounded holes, to 0.5 mm diam., exposing hollow cavity of interior, surface pale greenish-yellow or glaucous, shining, without soredia or pseudocyphellae. Apothecia numerous, subterminal or marginal, with a well-defined spur (geniculate), 1-3 mm diam., rounded, sub-pedicellate, thalline exciple smooth, disc plane or convex, pale yellow-pink with a thick glaucous-yellow pruina, margins concolorous with thallus, occluded in old fruits. Ascospores 6-8 per ascus, biseriate, straight or curved (10-)12-14 × 5-6 µm.
Chemistry: Sekikaic and salazinic (tr.) acids. Two chemodemes present: (1) Usnic and sekikaic acid , ±divaricatic acid, and (2) usnic and divariactic acid, ±sekikaic acid.
Substrate
Corticolous, occasionally saxicolous
Etymology
ramalina: Meaning small branches, twiggy.
geniculata: From the Latin geniculum ‘knee’, meaning ‘on bended knee’, often used in reference to plants with stems bent on an angle
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (17 June 2021). Information in the Brief description, Distribution, Habitat, Features and Similar taxa sections copied from Galloway (2007) and Bannister et al. (2004).
References and further reading
Bannister P., Bannister J.M. and Blanchon D.J. 2004: Distribution, habitat, and relation to climatic factors of the lichen genus Ramalina in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 121–138.
Galloway D.J. 1985: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens. Wellington: PD Hasselberg, Government Printer. 662 pp.
Galloway D.J. 2007: Flora of New Zealand: Lichens, including lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi. 2nd edition. Lincoln, Manaaki Whenua Press. 2261 pp.