Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Astrothelium prostratum Stirt., Trans. N. Z. Inst. 6: 240 (1874).

≡Parmentaria prostrata (Stirt.) Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 97 (1894).

=Astrothelium ochrochleistum Nyl., Lich. Nov. Zel.: 135 (1888).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Near Wellington. J. Buchanan 91d, iii.1873, "received 14 May 1873" – GLAM [fide Galloway (1985a: 354)]. Isolectotype – WELT [Buchanan material comprises three different collections: (1)" :85 Astrothelium prostratum sp. nov. Karori Hills Wellington Feby/73"; (2) : "109 Astrothelium prostratum sp. nov. On Bark, Upper Kawarra. Large tumid like pustules with minute black spots scattered over"; 3): "92–91–88, 109 Astrothelium prostratum, common Wellington, March/73" – the name prostratum has been crossed out by Buchanan and replaced with "ochrocleistum Nyl."].

Astrothelium ochrocleistum. Holotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], 1867, Charles Knight 315 – H-NYL 119.

Description : Flora (1985: 354).

N: Auckland to Wellington. Ch.: On smooth-barked trees (Dacrydium cupressinum) and shrubs in forest or forest remnants.

?Endemic

Pyrenula prostrata is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the olive-brownish to yellow-grey or greyish, smooth to roughened, areolate thallus; immersed perithecia (1–5 in a stroma) in scattered black verrucae, partially covered in periderm; and ovoid–ellipsoidal, submuriform (5–6 transverse and 1–2 vertical septa) ascospores, brown at maturity, (30–)35–40 × 11–12 μm.