Perspectives in Biodiversity | 2023 | Volume 1 | pp 25–42

Research Paper

Volume 1, Issue 1

Megalaria crispisulcans, a new isidiate species of Megalaria (Ramalinaceae) from Aotearoa / New Zealand

Andrew J. Marshall1,*, Dan J. Blanchon1, 2, Peter J.de Lange1, Sarah J. Wells1, Alan M. Fryday3, Tianyi Tang1 and Allison Knight4

Affiliations:
1 School of Environmental & Animal Sciences, Unitec | Te Pūkenga, Auckland, New Zealand
2 Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
3 Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
4 Department of Botany, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
* Corresponding author: amarshall2@unitec.ac.nz

Received: 30 August 2023 | Accepted: 15 September 2023 | Published: 11 October 2023
Senior Editor: Marleen Baling
doi: https://doi.org/10.34074/pibdiv.001103

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Abstract
Megalaria crispisulcans .J. Marshall, Blanchon & de Lange (Ramalinaceae) is described as a new species from populations in Te Ika a Maui / North Island of Aotearoa / New Zealand, and on Rēkohu (Chatham Island), Aotearoa / New Zealand. The new species is morphologically closely allied to Megalaria orokonuiana from which it is distinguished by its nrDNA ITS sequence and morphologically by the usual presence of a white prothallus, bright green (when fresh) isidiate thallus and dark black apothecia whose rims are usually crinkled / undulose at maturity. A phylogeny based on nrDNA ITS sequences is presented which recovers Megalaria crispisulcans as sister to M. orokonuiana. The ecology, habitats and conservation status of M. crispisulcans is provided and an update on the conservation status of M. orokonuiana provided. A revised key to the Aotearoa / New Zealand species of Megalaria is provided.