Lecidea coromandelica Zahlbr.
Type: New Zealand. South Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Mt Moehau c. 850 m, on rocks near summit. L.M. Cranwell ZA 626.
Thallus rosette-forming or irregularly spreading in patches, 1-3(-10) cm diam., yellow or yellow-white, matt, smooth, often appearing ± broadly squamulose, surface subconvex or plane, without a marginal prothallus. Apothecia conspicuous, solitary or 2-3 confluent, rounded or deformed by mutual pressure, 0.5-1.5 mm diam., disc black, matt, epruinose, plane to convex or undulate, margins thin, entire, slightly raised in young fruits, excluded in older fruits, concolorous with disc. Epithecium dark brown or black, 30-45 µm thick. Hymenium 80-100 µm tall, ± bluish. Hypothecium thick, ochraceous-brown or blackish. Ascospores ellipsoid, apices rounded, straight, 10-12(-15) × 4-6 µm.
N: South Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula (Mt Moehau), Wellington (Kaimanawa Mountains). S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra. Denniston Plateau), Southland (Resolution I., Dusky Sound).
Australasian
A very characteristic species forming prominent pale yellowish-white or yellow patches on rocks in alpine localities. Superficially resembling Rhizocarpon.
