Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Parmelia rockii Zahlbr., Annls mycol. 10: 379 (1912).

Description : Flora (1985: 200).

Chemistry : Cortex K+ yellow, UV−; medulla K−, C+ rose, KC+ rose, Pd−, UV−; containing atranorin, chloroatranorin and lecanoric acid.

N: Auckland (Karekare Beach, Waitakere Ra.), Taranaki (New Plymouth). S: Nelson (Lake Rotoiti, Maher Swamp), Marlborough (Kaikoura). On coastal rocks and trees (Metrosideros excelsa – pohutukawa), also inland on Sophora and Hebe. Known also from Switzerland, the Sonoran Desert, the neotropics, East Africa, SE Asia, Hawai'i and Papua New Guinea (Louwhoff & Elix 2002a; Nash et al. 2002b; Schumm 2003).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Hale (1975: 61, fig. 17f); Swinscow & Krog (1988: 121, fig. 58); Louwhoff & Elix (2002a: 97, fig. 50); Schumm (2003: 184, fig. 1).

Hypotrachyna rockii is similar to H. laevigata in its maculate upper surface and subterminal soralia, but distinguished by lecanoric acid in the medulla (and colour test with C).