Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen velleus L., Sp. Pl.: 1150 (1753).

Description : Flora (1985: 595).

Chemistry: Gyrophoric (major), umbilicaric (major) and lecanoric (minor) acids (Posner et al. 1992; Narui et al. 1996).

N: Wellington (Ruapehu, Tararua Ra.). S: Marlborough (Mt Tapae-o-uenuku), Canterbury (Banks Peninsula, Godley Valley, Mt Nimrod Hunters Hills, Kirkliston Ra.), Otago (Lake Ohau, Ahuriri Valley, Humboldt Mts, St Bathans Ra., Pisa Ra., Dunstan Mts, Dansey's Pass, St Marys Ra., Poolburn Reservoir, Old Man Ra., Mt Benger, Umbrella Mts, Rock & Pillar Ra., Mt Misery, Silver Peak, Maungatua), Southland (Garvie Mts). On vertical to slightly overhanging rock faces and in crevices in sheltered to exposed, alpine to high-alpine habitats, 610–1982 m. Associating with Lepraria neglecta, Parmelia signifera, Pseudephebe pubescens, Rhizocarpon geographicum, Umbilicaria cylindrica, and U. polyphylla. Known also from Europe, Scandinavia, Svalbard, Greenland, the Ukraine, Asia, North America and East Africa (Frey 1936b; Llano 1950; Krog & Swinscow 1986; Swinscow & Krog 1988; Nimis 1993; Poelt & Nash 1993; Santesson 1993; Hansen 1995; Kondratyuk et al. 1996a; Brodo et al. 2001; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Hestmark 2004; Santesson et al. 2004; Elvebakk & Bjerke 2006).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Frey (1933: 301, fig. 43); Llano (1950: 265, pl. 22, fig. 6; 275, pl. 27, fig. 1); Hale (1969: 136, fig. 245); Moberg & Holmåsen (1982: 159); Thomson (1984: 460); Wirth (1987: 486; 1995b: 939); Vitt et al. (1988: 240); Hestmark (1990: 571, fig. 18); Poelt & Nash (1993: 424, figs 1, 2); Goward et al. (1994b: 128, fig. 5A); Valladares (1994: 494, fig. 5); Hansen (1995: 70); Johnson et al. (1995: 351); McCune & Geiser (1997: 299).

Umbilicaria vellea is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the large, monophyllous thallus (6–15 cm diam.); the pale-cream to greyish white or fawnish, strongly white-pruinose upper surface; the black, coarsely papillose-warty lower surface with a densely developed felt of rhizinomorphs, the rhizinomorphs covered with black, sooty, multi-septate thalloconidia at their bases and with paler, elongate apices; and an absence of apothecia.