Flora of New Zealand Series

Description : Thallus pale-fawn or dull yellowish green, thin to effuse, surface smooth and dull, without isidia or soredia. Apothecia verruciform, sparse to numerous, sometimes confluent, flattened-hemispherical or irregular in outline, 0.5–1.5 mm diam.; ostioles black, 1–2 per verruca, sometimes raised. Ascospores 8 per ascus, hyaline, irregularly uniseriate, ellipsoidal, smooth, 60–85 × 25– 45 μm.

Chemistry : K−, KC+ weak orange, C+ weak orange, Pd−; containing thiophaninic acid and 2- O -methylperlatolic acid with traces of 2-chloro-6- O -methylnorlichexanthone (Archer & Elix 1993b: 113; Archer 1997: 126).

N: Three Kings Is. On coastal rocks. Also known from Papua New Guinea, Lord Howe I., Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (Archer 1991b, 1997, 2004a: 153–154; Archer & Elix 1993, 1998; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Australasian

Illustration : Archer (1997: 132, fig. 43).

Pertusaria petrophyes is characterised by: the saxicolous (coastal rocks) habit; 8-spored asci and the presence of thiophaninic and 2- O -methylperlatolic acid.