Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen parellus L., Mant. Pl. 1: 132 (1767).

Description : Flora (1985: 323).

Chemistry : Cortex K−, C−, KC−, Pd−; disc K−, C+ red, KC+ red, Pd−; containing variolaric acid in thallus and gyrophoric acid in the disc.

N: Northland (Poor Knights Is, Hen & Chickens Is, Fanal I., Little Barrier I., Cuvier I.), Auckland (Rangitoto I.), Wellington (Ruahine Ra., Tararua Ra., Kapiti I., Titahi Bay). S: Marlborough (Long I., Resolution Bay, Chetwode Is), Canterbury (Banks Peninsula, Arthur's Pass, Mt Peel), Otago (Central Otago Mts, Goat I. Otago Harbour). St: (Islet Cove Port Pegasus). C: (Jaquemart I.). On rocks in grassland and on maritime rocks. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, the Canary Is, North Africa, California, Arizona, Mexico, Falkland Is, Chile, South Georgia, Bouvetøya, South Orkney Is, South Shetland Is, Antarctica, and Australia (Verseghy 1962; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Galloway & Quilhot 1999; Øvstedal & Lewis Smith 2001; Coppins 2002b; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Roemer et al. 2004; Santesson et al. 2004; Søchting et al. 2004).

Bipolar

Illustrations : Ozenda & Clauzade (1970: 546, fig. 453); Jahns (1980: 247, pl. 626); Moberg & Holmåsen (1982: 207); Phillips (1987: 167); Baron (1999: 9, pl. 3, fig. 15); Dobson (2000: 243; 2005: 285).

Ochrolechia parella is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the thick, whitish or creamish, saxicolous thallus; apothecial discs that are white-pruinose and C+ red (gyrophoric acid); and broadly ellipsoidal ascospores, 45–55 × 18–22 μm.