Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Variolaria griseovirens Turner & Borrer ex Sm. in J.E. Smith & J. Sowerby, Engl. Bot. 34: tab. 2400 (1812).

Description : Flora (1985: 48). See also discusssion in Tønsberg (1992b) and Nordin (1996: 342–343).

Chemistry : containing atranorin and norstictic acid (often in very faint amounts).

N: Wellington (Ohakune). S: Throughout on both decorticated wood (old fence posts, farm gates, stiles, railings, seats etc.) and common on bark of introduced trees (especially fruit trees) in parks, gardens and orchards, known from Betula, Discaria toumatou (where it forms a characteristic association with Haematomma alpinum, Hypotrachyna sinuosa, Lecidella elaeochroma, Parmelia cunninghamii, P. tenuirima, Ramalina inflexa and Usnea), Malus,and Magnolia. Also on Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides. It appears to be tolerant of both atmospheric and agricultural pollution. Known also from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, and North America (Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Coppins 2002b; Foucard et al. 2002; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Foucard (1990: pl. 61); Wirth (1995b: 193); Nordin (1996: 341, fig. 8B); Boqueras (2000: 123, fig. 15F); Dobson (2000: 81; 2005: 88); Nordic Lichen Flora Vol. 2 (2002: 92).

Buellia griseovirens is characterised by: the lignicolous/corticolous thallus; the thin, pale-grey thallus; and prominent, farinose, green-grey soralia, often obscuring the thallus.