Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lecidea semipallida C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 12: 376 (1880).

≡Patellaria semipallida (C.Knight) Müll.Arg., Bull. Herb. Boissier 2, App. 1: 62 (1894).

≡Biatorina semipallida (C.Knight) Hellb., Bihang K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 21 (3/13): 108 (1896).

≡Catillaria semipallida (C.Knight) Zahlbr., Cat. lich. univ. 4 (1): 70 (1926).

Lectotype: New Zealand. Sine loco (probably Wellington), Charles Knight – WELT Herb. Knight vol. 49A, p. 26 [fide Galloway (1985a: 79)].

Description : Flora (1985: 79).

N: Wellington (Rimutaka Forest Park).

Endemic

Illustration : Knight (1880: pl. XIII, fig. 39 – as Lecidea semipallida).

Megalaria semipallida is characterised by: the lignicolous habit; the pale whitish grey, minutely scurfy to obsolete thallus; biatorine, applanate, immarginate, convex apothecia, 0.05–0.2 mm diam., 1–3-confluent, red-brown, pale-brown to slightly blackened, epruinose; and minute, ellipsoidal–oblong to subfusiform ascospores, 9–13.5 × 1.5–3.5 μm.