Scoliciosporum umbrinum
≡Lecidea umbrina Ach., Lichenogr. universalis: 183 (1810).
Description : Thallus variable, thin, scurfy-uneven, ±cracked, to rather thick, nodular-uneven, dark green-brown to black. Apothecia 0.3–0.8 mm diam., red-brown to dark brown-black; epithecium blue-green, green-brown or olive-brown, colours often intermixed. Ascospores 3–7-septate, acicular, spirally twisted in ascus, sigmoid or curved on release, (22–)25–32(–40) × 1–1.2 μm.
N: Taranaki (New Plymouth). S: Nelson (Golden Bay). On coastal rocks (Malcolm & Vězda 1996a) and on tanalised timber with Candelariella xanthostigma. Known also from Europe and North America in boreal and temperate zones (Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Esslinger & Egan 1995; Coppins 2002b; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004; Ekman & Tønsberg 2004), and in Socotra, Australia, and from subantarctic Marion I (Hafellner et al. 1989; Filson 1996; Øvstedal & Gremmen 2001; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Mies & Schultz 2004).
Cosmopolitan
Illustrations : Foucard (1990: pl. 310); Dobson (1992: 311; 2000: 357; 2005: 405); Malcolm & Vězda (1996a: 18); Wirth (1995a: 156, pl. 25O); Malcolm & Malcolm (2000: 67); Lumbsch et al. (2001: 19).
Scoliciosporum umbrinum grows on both siliceous rocks and acid bark or lignum, often behaving as a pioneer lichen, and is pollution-tolerant. The record from Taranaki is from a moderately polluted habitat.
