The lichens of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South Pacific Ocean II: Parmeliaceae

Ten parmelioid taxa in five genera were identified from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South Pacific Ocean. These comprise: three species of Bulbothrix, one species of Canoparmelia, four species of Parmotrema, one species of Rimelia and one species of Xanthoparmelia. Canoparmelia rarotongensis Louwhoff and Elix is described as new, being distinguished from other species of this genus by its unique secondary chemistry (lecanoric acid) and conspicuous, inflated isidia. The majority of parmelioid lichens on Rarotonga have cosmopolitan and pantropical distributions. Bulbothrix is reported for the first time from the Polynesian region. (C) 2000 The British Lichen Society.