New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Distribution of the lichen genus Flavocetraria (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in the Southern Hemisphere

Jarle W. Bjerke
Arve Elvebakk

Department of Biology
Faculty of Science
University of Tromsø
N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
Email: jarle.bjerke@ib.uit.no

Abstract  The known distribution of the lichens Flavocetraria cucullata and F. nivalis in the Southern Hemisphere is discussed. Flavocetraria cucullata occurs at high altitudes in Peru and Bolivia, whereas F. nivalis ssp. nivalis has a disjunct distribution in South America, being known from one locality in Peru and from a restricted area in southernmost Chile and Argentina. These are the first confirmed records of F. nivalis from Chile. A herbarium specimen annotated “New Zealand” was found. This enigmatic specimen lacks information on collector and exact locality. Distribution maps for South America and notes on habitat ecology and distribution patterns are provided. Possible ages of bipolar lichen disjunctions are discussed, and it is suggested that the Flavocetraria patterns indicate a relatively recent establishment in South America. Cetraria ericetorum, found associated with F. cucullata, is a new record for Bolivia and northern South America.

Keywords  Flavocetraria; lichens; phytogeography; South America; Andes; bipolar distribution; disjunct distribution

B03047; Received 6 November 2003; accepted 25 March 2004; Online publication date 21 September 2004
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 647-656
0028-825X/04/4204-0647 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004

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