at about 1500m on scree slope, fully exposed to sun, near Mt Pember, Puketeraki Range, Canty. Distinctive at some hundreds of meters distant as one of several odd-looking (almost black) and large (<5m) rocky outcrops. On close inspection the odd appearance was seen to be an almost complete covering of the outcrop with black/purple lichen. The strands are quite stiff when dry but soften somewhat when moistened. I've seen this in the Canty mountains once before tho' can't remember exactly where. Would be keen to know more about it : is it really a lichen ? how widespread is its distribution ? how rare is it ?