Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Verrucaria occulta C.Knight, Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Bot. 1: 279 (1877).

=?Trypethelium erumpens Stirt., Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 14: 473 (1875) non Fée

≡Melanotheca stirtoniana Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 96 (1894).

=Verrucaria arthoniza C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 15: 356 (1883).

=Pyrenula straminescens Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 255 (1941).

=Melanotheca irregularis Zahlbr., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 256 (1941).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], Charles Knight – BM [fide Galloway (1985a: 493)].

Trypethelium erumpens Stirt. Lectotype: New Zealand. Wellington, J. Buchanan – BM [fide Galloway (1985a: 274)]. Isolectotypes – WELT [three packets annotated by Buchanan: (1) "Trypethelium erumpens Fée, 144, Wainuiomata Augst. 1873"; (2) "Trypethelium erumpens Fée, 148, Kaiwarra Stream, Augst. 1873, same as 144"; (3) "Trypethelium erumpens Fée, Kaka Hill, Augst 1873"]

Verrucaria arthoniza. Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], 14.v.76, Charles Knight – WELT, Herb. Knight Vol. 59A, P. 12 [fide Galloway (1985a: 493)].

Pyrenula straminescens. Lectotype: New Zealand. Otago, Saddle between Leith Valley and Waitati, in forest remnant on [Suttonia] Myrsine divaricata, J.S. Thomson T2167 [A 91] – CHR 380000 [fide Galloway (1985a: 493)].

Melanotheca irregularis. Lectotype: New Zealand. Otago, Mt Cargill near Dunedin, on Neopanax simplex at 400 m, J.S. Thomson T2104 [ZA 3270] – CHR 378613.

Description : Flora (1985: 492–493).

N: Wellington. S: Otago (Dunedin). On bark of trees and shrubs in forest or forest remnants. Known also from Queensland (McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Australasian

Illustrations : Knight (1877: pl. XXXVII, fig. 24 – as Verrucaria occulta; 1883: pl. XXXVI, fig. 10 – as Verrucaria arthoniza).

Pyrenula occulta is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the pale yellowish white to olivaceous to orange, subverrucose, roughened or eroded thallus in broad patches, 4–6 cm diam., (UV+ orange); rather sparse, immersed to eroded perithecia, with prominent, gaping ostioles; and oblong-ovoid, 3-septate ascospores, (13.5–)17–20(–33) × (5–)6.5–8.5 μm.