Porpidia albocaerulescens (Wulf.) Hertel & Knoph var. polycarpiza (Vain.) Rambold & Hertel

Porpidia albocaerulescens is characterized by a whitish grey thallus and immersed apothecia with whitepruinose discs. The norstictic acid containing chemotype has a center of distribution in the subtropical and tropical regions of South-East Asia. It has been reported from the southern Mediterranean region, eastern North America, the tropical parts of eastern Australia (Rambold 1989), the Philippines, India, China, Taiwan, Japan and Indonesia (Hertel 1977). Therefore the finding in Thailand is not surprising. It is a further addition to the Thai lichen biota.

Specimen examined:— THAILAND. Chiang Mai Province: Lumphun, Mae On, ESE of Chiang Mai; descent from Doi Mon Larn to Mae Kam Pong village, on a low arenite boulder in an evergreen mountain forest dominated by Lithocarpus, Quercus and Castanopsis, ca. 1500 m. 18°51’22’’ N, 99°22’02’’ E, 19 March 2008, K. Kalb, K. Buaruang & W. Saipunkaew (hb. Kalb, 36889, dupl. RAMK). Chemistry: norstictic acid (major) and connorstictic acid (minor).