9 The lichens of Lord Howe Island. 1. Introduction and the genus Pertusaria (Pertusariaceae) Alan W. Archer & John A. Elix Abstract Archer, Alan W.' & Elix, John A.1 (’National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2000; department of Chemistry, The Faculties, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia 0200) 1994. The lichens of Lord Howe Island. 1. Introduction and the genus Pertusaria (Pertusariaceae). Telopea 6(1): 9-30. The historical records of lichens of Lord Howe Island are discussed and an account is given of the lichen genus Pertusaria on Lord Howe Island. Twenty species are found there, six of which are new: Pertusaria howeana Archer & Elix, P. lordhowensis Archer & Elix, P. malabara Archer & Elix, P. maritima Archer & Elix, P. minialescens Archer & Elix and P. puffina Archer & Elix. Pertusaria subventosa Malme is also reported from New Zealand. A key to the species on Lord Howe Island is presented. Pertusaria dehiscens Miill.Arg. var. alba Miill.Arg., P. dehiscens Miill.Arg. var. depressior Miill.Arg. and P. sulphurescens Miill.Arg. are reported as synonyms of P. dehiscens Miill.Arg. Introduction Lord Howe Island and satellite islets (the Admiralty Islands, Rabbit Island, Mutton Bird Island, Balls Pyramid, etc.) are isolated volcanic outcrops in the South Pacific Ocean between longitudes 159° 02' 12" and 159° 06' 18" E and latitudes 31° 30' 42" and 31° 36' 00" S. The islands are the emergent portions of a large, nearly truncated seamount. This seamount sits on the western edge of the Lord Howe Rise — an undersea volcanic plateau some 300 km wide and 2,000 km long, extending from New Zealand to the Chesterfield Reefs, midway between New Caledonia and the Queensland coast. Lord Howe Island lies approximately 700 km north-east of Sydney and 1250 km north-west from the northern tip of New Zealand. Lord Howe Island (Figure 1) is an Australian territory, under the administrative control of New South Wales. The island is roughly crescent-shaped, approximately 12 km long and 2.8 km wide, totalling 1,455 ha in area and almost completely volcanic in origin, with basalts and breccias the major rock types. Geologically Lord Howe Island is now considered to be the eroded remnant of a large shield volcano active during the Pleiocene epoch, some 7 million years ago. Several volcanic periods are believed responsible for different parts of the Island, but the two present mountains, Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, represent the most recent volcanic phase (6.4 million years ago). The low-lying central part of Lord Howe Island is covered by a coarse, marine calcarenite of late Pleistocene origin (McDougall, Embleton & Stone 1981). Much of Lord I lowe Island is mountainous or hilly country. The southern half of the island is dominated by the twin peaks of Mt Gower, 875 m, and Mt Lidgbird, 777 m. The volcanic hills in the northern and central parts of the island are lower — Mt Eliza is only 148 m and Intermediate Hill 250 m above sea level. Between the northern and southern hills there are low-lying sand and sedimentary deposits. The coastline 10 Telopea Vol. 6(1): 1994 Figure 1. Lord Howe Island. Archer & Elix, Pertusaria on Lord Howe Island 11 varies from the large shallow reef-fringed lagoon with white sandy beaches on the western side of the island to small sandy bays (e.g. Neds Beach) or sheer black cliffs of basalt up to 200 m high (Malabar) (Hutton 1985). The climate of Lord Howe Island is subtropical with no extremes of temperature, no real seasonal pattern and moderate relative humidity (70-78%). Mean monthly temperature fluctuates from minima near 13° C (in winter) to maxima near 25° C (in summer) and the daily range is rarely more than 8° C. Rainfall (mean annual precipitation 1675 mm) occurs throughout the year with a winter maximum (June average of 187 mm) and summer minimum (February average of 113 mm). The summers are actually drier than the figures indicate, but erratic summer rain depressions (up to 300 mm in a month) boost the average monthly figures. History of lichenological investigations Lord Howe Island was discovered in 1788 by Lieutenant H. Lidgbird Ball, of H.M.S. Supply, while on his way from Port Jackson to establish a penal colony on Norfolk Island. The island had remained undiscovered by the Polynesians on their migrations throughout the Pacific and was uninhabited. The first settlers arrived in 1834 and grew fruit and vegetables which they traded with whalers. The island has been visited by a number of scientific expeditions in the course of its short history, but few of the early expeditions contributed greatly to the knowledge of the lichen flora. The most important collections were made by Charles Moore, the then director of the Botanic Gardens in Sydney, who, with his assistant Mr Carron, visited the Island in 1869. They formed part of an observation party sent to report on the Island by the government of New South Wales, together with the water police magistrate, P. L. Cloete, sent to investigate a murder. The first lichens from Lord Howe Island to be determined were reported by Krempelhuber (1881), who recorded five species from collections made in the main by Fullagar and forwarded to him by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne). The first new lichen species reported from Lord Howe Island was Pseudocyphellaria poculifera (Mull. Arg.) D. Gall. & P. James [as Sticta poculifera Mull. Arg.|, described by J. Muller of Argau (Muller 1882) from a collection made by de Camara, again forwarded to Europe by F. Mueller. Subsequently Moore's lichen collections were examined by A. Zahlbruckner in Vienna, who recorded a total of 12 taxa from the Island (Zahlbruckner 1896). A combined list is presented here using currently accepted names for taxa followed, where appropriate, by the synonyms used by Krempelhuber, J. Muller and Zahlbruckner in brackets. These recorded taxa have not yet been verified. The species list included: Cladonia furcata (Huds.) Schrad. [Cladonia furcata var. tenuicaulis Mull. Arg.] Heterodea muelleri Nyl. Lobaria querzicans Michx. [Sticta querzicans Ach.] Pscudocyphellaria aurata (Sm.) Vain. [Sf/cf<7 aurata Sm.] Pseudocyphellaria carpoloma (Del.) Vain. [Stictina carpoloma Nyl.] Pseudocyplicllaria freycinetii (Del.)Malme [Sticta frcycinetii Del.] Pseudocyphellaria mooreana (Zahlbr.)Imshaug [Sticta mooreana Zahlbr.] 12 Telopea Vol. 6(1): 1994 Pseudocyphellaria psilophylla Mull. Arg.) D. Gall. & P. James [Sticta psilophylla Mull. Arg.] Ramalina peruviana Ach. [Ramalina javanica Nyl.] Ramalina subfraxinea Nyl. [Ramalina complanata Ach.] Sphaerophorus melanocarpus (Sw.)DC. in Lamy & DC. ]Sphaerophoron compressum Ach. var. candidum Mull. Arg.] Sticta latifrons A. Rich., [Sticta sinuosa var. macrophylla Bab.] Usnea dasypoga (Ach.) Nyl. [Usnea barbata var. dasypoga Fr.] Usnea vrieseana Mont. & v. d. Bosch. Xanthopannelia tasmanica (Taylor) Hale [Parmelia stramineonitens Zahlbr.] Subsequently Edwin Cheel (Botanic Gardens, Sydney) referred to several lichens from Lord Howe Island (Cheel 1906, 1913) but no new records were included. More recently Pickard (1973) published an annotated bibliography of all the botanical literature on Lord Howe Island including 9 references to lichens and these have been summarised above. From the collections housed in NSW and CBG it is apparent that lichens have been collected on Lord Howe Island by C. Hedley and W. S. Dunn [1908], W. W. Watts [1911 — who also made an important collection of bryophytes], J. Stovold [1924], J. Pickman [1978], D.H. Vitt [1981], Only one species of Pertusaria has been described from Lord Howe Island, Pertusaria sublacerans Archer (Archer 1991), the specimens of which were collected by W.W. Watts in 1911. Principal vegetation formations The vegetation of Lord Howe Island (Pickard 1981) can be divided into four major formations namely: pastures and foreshores, and three broad types of sub-tropical rainforest, lowland dry forests, lowland sheltered forests and the mountain rain¬ forest. Brief notes are given below for these, together with the dominant lichen genera occurring in each formation. Pastures and foreshores: Here old fence posts are colonised by a few corticolous lichens (Dirinaria, Lecanora, Pertusaria sp.). Remnant Cryptocarya triplinervis (black- butt) trees, which occur in scattered stands, are much better substrates, with more species present and larger populations of lichens. Basaltic rock surfaces in pasture and exposed ridges (e.g. ridge to Malabar Hill) are very interesting substrates and lichen communities here include representatives of Parmotrema, Xanthopannelia and Xanthoria plus a variety of microlichen genera including Lecanora and Pertusaria. Interestingly the outcrops of calcarenite near Neds Beach appear to be almost devoid of lichens. Lowland dry forests: Such forests occur in exposed low altitude areas and are dominated by Cryptocarya triplinervis, Ficus macrophylla subsp. calumnaris (banyan) and dense thickets of the endemic palms Howea fosteriana and H. belmoreana. These forests are quite good lichen habitats: the richest substrates are the upper trunks and canopy branches of Cryptocarya and base of the trunks and dead wood on Howea palms. The macrolichen genera Dirinaria, Physcia, Pyxine and Parmotrema are prominent along with the crustose taxa Caloplaca, Graphidaceae, Pertusaria and Buellia. Archer & Elix, Pertusaria on Lord Howe Island 13 Lowland sheltered forests: Lowland sheltered forests occur in protected sites with well watered basalt soils, and dominant phanerogam species include Bubbia howeana, Cldstocalyx fullageri, Atractocarpus stipularis and Chionanthus quadristamineus. Such forests are characteristic of the slopes of Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, the western slope of Intermediate Hill and Malabar Ridge near Kims Lookout. The tree branches in the canopy are rich lichen habitats, with Pannaria, Pseudocyphellaria, Heteroderrnia and Bulbothrix species being prominent. The endemic pandanus, Panda- mis forsteri, is common along creek beds in such habitats and its prodigious prop roots (sometimes to 18 m high) are commonly covered with lichens, particularly Graphidaceae. Basalt rocks in such areas are also interesting lichen substrates often supporting large colonies of Letrouitia, Lecanora, Buellia and Pertusaria species. Mountain rainforest: As a consequence of the higher humidity and rainfall on Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower, the summit areas (particularly on the latter) are covered with a unique miniature rainforest. The forest consists of a dense growth of small trees, bushes, palms and tree ferns rarely more than 4 m in height, the trunks and branches of which are densely encrusted with epiphytic ferns, mosses, lichens and orchids. Many of the Island's unique plants grow in this forest, including the palms Heyscepe canterburyana, Lepidorrhacbis mooreana, DracophyUum fitzgeraldii and Negria rhabdotharnnoides. Moisture tolerant lichen genera abound, including large colonies of Pseudocyphellaria, Leptogium, Pannariaceae and Sticta in the wetter areas, while the canopy branches provide a rich substrate for crustose lichens, including many species of Graphidaceae, Pyrenula, Clathoporina and Megalospora. One of the most striking lichens of the forest is Pseudocyphellaria poculifera, with its brilliantly yellow and emerald green (when wet) thallus. This species commonly inhabits the trunks and branches of many trees and shrubs. Materials and methods This account is based mainly on specimens collected by one of us (J.A.E.) on Lord Howe Island in June 1992 and an examination of type specimens from H-NYL, G, NSW, TUR-V, S and WELT. The techniques used for the examination of the specimens have been described previously (Archer 1991); in addition, the chemistry was determined by liquid chromatography (Elix & Venables 1993). Sections of verrucae were mounted in water for measurement of spore size; the spore dimensions quoted are those of mature spores, although smaller, immature spores may also be present. The figures illustrate holotypes. Results Pertusaria asperata Archer (Archer & Elix 1992: 417) Type: New South Wales: Myall River State Forest, on sandstone rock, by side of track, near Crawford River, c. 10 km W of Bulahdelah, 32° 25' S, 152° 06' E, alt. c. 50 m, A.Archer P188, 20 June 1991 (holo NSW). Thallus off-white to pale greyish white, thin, areolate and cracked, surface sub- tuberculate and dull, lacking isidia and soredia, saxicolous; apothecia verruciform, concolorous with the thallus, numerous, scattered, rarely confluent, flattened hemispherical, concave above, constricted at the base, 0.8-1.5 mm diam.; ostioles conspicuous, dark brown, 1 per verruca; spores 8 per ascus, ellipsoid to sub- fusiform, smooth, irregularly biseriate, 112-125 gm long, 37-50 pm wide. 14 Telopea Vol. 6(1): 1994 Chemistry: K-, KC-, C-, Pd-; lichexanthone, stictic and constictic acids. Pertusaria asperata is characterised by the eight biseriate subfusiform spores and the presence of lichexanthone and stictic acid. It somewhat resembles Pertusaria petrophyes Knight but is distinguished from that species by the spore size and chemistry. Pertusaria asperata is an uncommon species found in New South Wales and Lord Howe Island, where it occurs on basalt rocks. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: Max Nicholls Track, 31° 31' 08" S, 159° 03' 03" E, alt. 50 m, in dry lowland forest, Elix 32720, June 1992 (ANUC); along ridge to Malabar Hill, 31° 31' 16" S, 159° 03' 50" E, alt. 80 m, in dense shrubby vegetation, Elix 32973, June 1992 (ANUC). Pertusaria dehiscens Miill. Arg. (Muller 1884: 349) Type: Brazil: Apiahy [Apiai], Puiggari 499 p.p., vii.1882 (G-lectotype, fide M. Oshio 1978)[previously reported as Puiggari s.n. (Archer 1991)]; Puiggari 2197 p.p. (G- syntype). Pertusaria dehiscens var. alba Miill. Arg. (Muller 1884: 349) Type: Brazil: Apiahy, Puiggari 2197 p.p. (G-syntype). Pertusaria dehiscens var. depressior Miill. Arg. (Miiller 1884: 349) Type: Brazil: Apiahy, Puiggari 499 p.p. (G-syntype); India, Neilgherries [Nilgiri Hills, ca. 250 km SSW of Bangalore], Ziegler s.n. (G-syntype). Pertusaria sulphurescens Miill. Arg. (Miiller 1884: 349) Type: Brazil: Apiahy, Puiggari 2197 p.p., July 1881(G-holotype). Thallus pale to dark olive green, wrinkled and cracked, lacking isidia and soredia, surface dull, corticolous; apothecia verruciform, conspicuous, numerous, con- colorous with the thallus, flattened hemispherical, 0.8-1.5 mm diam.; ostioles black, punctiform, 2—5 per verruca, in a hyaline zone, the zone becoming conspicuous, deeply concave and almost disciform, to 0.8 mm diam.; spores 8 per ascus, biseriate, smooth, fusiform, 100—140(—150) pm long, 35-50 pm wide. Chemistry: K-, KC-, C-, Pd-; lichexanthone and stictic and constictic acids. Pei tusaria dehiscens is characterised by the conspicuously depressed ostioles, the eight biseriate spores and the chemistry. The multiple black ostioles in a concave hyaline zone and the fusiform spores distinguish Pertusaria dehiscens from the chemically similar, saxicolous Pertusaria asperata which has single dark brown ostioles, not in a hyaline zone, and ellipsoid to subfusiform spores. The three additional synonymous taxa listed above are chemically and morphologically identical to Pertusaria dehiscens. The species also occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Norfolk Island and India and Brazil. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: along track to Mutton Bird Point, 31° 32' 45" S, 159 05 00 E, alt. 60 m, on dead canopy branches in dry lowland forest with basalt outcrops, Elix 32786, June 1992 (ANUC). Pertusaria elliptica Miill. Arg. (Muller 1895: 635) Type: Queensland: Goodna, Shirley 1754 p.p.,1893 (holo G). Thallus off-white or pale grey to pale olive green, thin, surface smooth or slightly rough and dull, corticolous; apothecia verruciform, conspicuous, scattered, slightly Archer & Elix, Pertusaria on Lord Howe Island 15 flattened hemispherical, rounded or elongated or irregular in outline, becoming constricted at the base and concave above, 0.5-1.5 mm diam.; ostioles conspicuous, black, sometimes in a grey translucent zone, 1-2 per verruca; spores 3-4 per ascus, uniseriate, elongate ellipsoid to subfusiform, rough, 80-110 pm long, 30-45 pm wide. Chemistry: K-, KC-, C-, Pd-; 2,5-dichlorolichexanthone (major), 2,4,5-trichloro- lichexanthone (major), 2,4-dichlorolichexanthone (trace), 2-chlorolichexanthone (minor), 4,5-dichloro-lichexanthone (trace), 2' -O-methylperlatolic acid (minor), 2-0- methylperlatolic acid (minor). Pertusaria elliptica is characterised by the three to four rough spores per ascus, the conspicuous black ostioles and the chemistry. The species was previously reported to contain 4,5-dichlorolichexanthone (Archer 1991a) but liquid chromatography has shown the presence of the complex xanthone mixture listed above. Pertusaria elliptica occurs in northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales, and also in New Caledonia. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: near junction of tracks to Mutton Bird Point and Intermediate Hill, 31° 32' 43” S, 159° 04' 48" E, alt. 60 m, on dead palm in dry lowland forest with basalt outcrops, Elix 32744, June 1992 (ANUC). Pertusaria howeana Archer & Elix, sp. nov. Thallus flavo-olivaceus vel virido-flavus, areolatus et rimosus, superficies laevis et hebetata, isidiis et sorediis destitutis, corticola; apothecia verruciformia, conspicua, numerosa, dispersa, plano-hemisphaerica, basi constrictescentia et distortescentia, interdum plus flavida quam thallus, 0.8-1,5(—2.0) mm diam.; ostiola inconspicua, nigra vel translucida, in verruca l-2na; sporae 8nae, irregulariter biseriatae, ellipsoideae vel subfusiformes, 75-87 pm longae, 30-35 pm latae. Thallus arthothelin et 6-O-methylartothelin continens. Type: Lord Howe Island: Neds Beach Road at Malabar Hill Track, 31° 31' 16" S, 159° 03' 50" E, alt. 10 m, on crown of Cryptocarya in disturbed lowland forest, j.A. Elix 32889, 22 June 1992 (holo ANUC). Thallus dull yellowish green to dull greenish yellow, areolate and cracked, surface smooth and dull, lacking soredia and isidia; corticolous; apothecia verruciform, con¬ spicuous, numerous, scattered, flattened hemispherical, becoming constricted at the base and distorted, sometimes yellower than the thallus, 0.8—1.5(—2.0) mm diam.; ostioles inconspicuous, black or translucent, l(-2) per verruca; spores 8 per ascus, irregularly 2-seriate, ellipsoid to subfusiform, 75-87 pm long, 30-35 pm wide. Fig. 2. Chemistry: K-, KC+ yellow orange, C+ yellow orange, Pd-; arthothelin (major), 6-0- methylarthothelin (major), 2,5-dichloronorlichexanthone (minor), 2,7-dichloronor- lichexanthone (minor), 4,5-dichloronorlichexanthone (trace). Pertusaria howeana is characterised by the 8 biseriate spores, the yellowish verrucae and the presence of polychlorinated norlichexanthone derivatives. It resembles Pertusaria hartlettii Archer & Elix, described from New Zealand (Archer & Elix 1994) but differs from that species in the absence of thiophanic acid and the presence of 6-O-methyl-arthothelin. Pertusaria hoiueana is known only from Lord Howe Island. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: track to Little Island, near Salmon Beach, 31° 33' 30" S, 159° 04' 30" E, alt. 5 m, on dead tree in scrubby, partly disturbed forest, Elix 32668, June 1992 (ANUC); near junction of tracks to Mutton Bird Point and Interme¬ diate Hill, 32° 32' 43” S, 159° 04' 48" E, alt. 60 m, on dead palm in dry lowland forest with basalt outcrops, Elix 32746, June 1992 (ANUC); along track to Mutton Bird Point, 31° 32' 45" S, 159° 05' 00" E, alt. 60 m, on base of palm in dry lowland forest with basalt outcrops, Elix 32795, June 1992 (ANUC). 16 Tetopea Vol. 6(1): 1994 Figure 4. Pertusarin malabara, holotype, X 4.5. Figure 5. Pertusaria maritima, holotype, X 4. Figure 6. Pertusaria miniatescens, holotype, X 3. Figure 7. Pertusarin puffina, holotype, X 3. Archer & Elix, Pertusaria on Lord Howe Island 17 Pertusaria lavata Miill. Arg. (Muller 1884: 462) Type: New Zealand: s. loc., Knight s.n., 1883 (holo G). Thallus pale greyish-white to pale fawn, thick, coarsely areolate and cracked, lack- ing isidia and soredia, surface smooth and dull, saxicolous; apothecia verruciform, numerous, crowded, often confluent, concolorous with the thallus, flattened hemi¬ spherical, 0.7-1.0 mm diam.; ostioles conspicuous, black, punctiform, surrounded by a pale translucent zone, 1 per verruca; spores 8 per ascus, usually 6-8, ellipsoid to subfusiform, smooth, predominantly biseriate, 85-105 pm long, 30-40 pm wide. Chemistry: K-, KC-, C-, Pd-; 4,5-dichlorolichexanthone and 2'-0-methylperlatolic acid. Pertusaria lavata is characterised by the flattened verrucae (which are often confluent), the eight biseriate spores, flat ostioles and the chemistry. These morphological features distinguish P. lavata from the chemically similar, eight-spored saxicolous Pertusaria lophocarpa Korber (which also occurs in eastern Australia and New Zealand) and which has well-defined, rarely confluent verrucae, eight smaller uniseriate spores and conspicuously sunken ostioles. P. lavata occurs in eastern Australia and also in New Zealand. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: along track to Mutton Bird Point, 32° 32' 45" S, 159° 05' 00" E, alt. 60 m, on basalt rocks in dry lowland forest, Elix 32822, 32825, June 1992 (ANUC); between Little Island and The Cross, 31° 34' 20" S, 159° 04' 30" E, alt. 30 m, on basalt rocks in Ficus dominated steep slope, Elix 33008, 33011, 33013, June 1992 (ANUC). Pertusaria leioplacella Nyl. (Nylander 1867: 71) Type: New Caledonia: Lifu, E. Marie s.n., 1863 (lecto H-NYL 23640, fide Awasthi & Srivastava, isolecto H-NYL 23643). Pertusaria amblyogona Mull. Arg. (Muller 1895: 638) Type: Queensland: Toowoomba, Hartmann s.n., 1894 ( holo G). Pertusaria confluens Miill. Arg. (Muller 1895: 638) Type: Queensland: Toowoomba, Hartmann s.n., 1894 (holo G). Thallus off-white to pale yellowish-white, areolate and cracked, surface smooth and dull, lacking isidia and soredia, corticolous; apothecia verruciform, numerous, scattered, sometimes confluent, flattened hemispherical, concolorous with the thallus, 0.5-1 (-1.5) mm diam.; ostioles inconspicuous, translucent, pale yellow, 1 per verruca; spores 8 per ascus, usually 6-8, irregularly uni- or biseriate, ellipsoid, smooth, 52-72 pm long, 28-32 pm wide. Chemistry: K-, KC+ orange,C+ orange, Pd-; thiophaninic and stictic acids with traces of hypostictic and constictic acids. Pertusaria leioplacella is characterised by the pale yellow thallus giving a KC+ and C+ orange colour, the pale yellow ostioles and the eight spored asci. The species is distinguished from the somewhat similar Pertusaria gibberosa Miill.Arg. by the chemical reactions. The specimen from Lord Howe Island contained a relatively low concentration of thiophaninic acid compared to those found in specimens from eastern Australia. 18 Telopea Vol. 6(1): 1994 Pertusnrin leioplacelln occurs in the Northern Territory, eastern Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. It is widely distributed in the Southern Hemisphere in Brazil, Paraguay, South Africa, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, and also occurs in the West Indies, Mexico and Hawaii. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: Neds Beach Road at Malabar Hill Track, 31° 3V 16" S, 159° 03' 50" E, alt. 10 m, on crown of Cryptocarya in disturbed lowland forest, Elix 32876, June 1992 (ANUC). Pertusaria limbata Vainio (Vainio 1890: 110) Type: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, E. Vainio, Lick. Bras. Exsicc. 208,1885 (holo TUR-V 6719, iso UPS). Pertusaria spaniostoma Vainio (Vainio 1926: 5) Type: South Africa: Elsenburg, P.A. van der Byl 242 (holo TUR-V 34431). Pertusaria simplex Vainio (Vainio 1929: 5) Type: Mozambique: Palma, A. Fires de Lima 873, 1916 (holo TUR-V 34430). Thallus pale olive green, areolate and cracked, surface smooth and dull, lacking isidia and soredia, corticolous; apothecia verruciform, flattened hemispherical, concolorous with the thallus, conspicuous, scattered, sometimes confluent, becom¬ ing constricted at the base, 0.7-1.2 mm diam.; ostioles inconspicuous, pale, trans¬ lucent, 1-2 per verruca, sometimes fusing to form a sunken translucent disc; spores 8 per ascus, irregularly biseriate, ellipsoid to subfusiform, smooth, 65-75 urn long, 25-30 pm wide. Chemistry: K-, KC-, C-, Pd-; 2-chlorolichexanthone, stictic and constictic acids. Pertusaria limbata is characterised by biseriate eight-spored asci and the presence of 2-chlorolichexanthone and stictic acid. It occurs in Queensland and New South Wales, and also in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and South Africa. Also examined: Lord Howe Island: Neds Beach Road at Malabar Hill Track, 32° 31' 16" S, 159° 03' 50” E, alt. 10 m, on crown of Cryptocarya in disturbed lowland forest Elix 32881, June 1992 (ANUC). Queensland: Moreton, Andrew Drynan Park, 4 km WNW of Richmond Gap, on Eucalyptus bark, Archer P 418, Sep 1992 (NSW). New South Wales: North Coast, Border Ranges National Park, Antarctic Beech Look¬ out, on Solatium, Archer P 428, Sep 1992 (NSW). Pertusaria lordhowensis Archer & Elix, sp. nov. Thallus albido-olivaceus, areolatus et rimosus, superficies laevis et hebetata, isidiis et sorediis destitutis, corticola; apothecia verruciformia, inconspicua, numerosa, dispersa, plano-hemisphaerica, thallo concoloria, 0.5—0.8 mm diam.; ostiola conspicua, atrobrunnea, singula in verruca; sporae 8nae, biseriatae, ellipsoideae, laeves, (50-) 60-75 pm longae, 25—30 pm latae. Thallus 2,4-dichloro-lichexanthone, 2,5-dichloro- lichexanthone, 2,4,5-trichlorolichexanthone continens. Type: Lord Howe Island: Neds Beach Road at Malabar Hill Track, 32° 31' 16" S, 159° 03' 50" E, alt. 10 m, on on crown of Cryptocarya in disturbed lowland forest, / A Elix 32878, 22 June 1992 (holo ANUC).