Flora of New Zealand Series

≡*Lecidea vitellinaria Nyl., Bot. Not.: 117 (1852).

Description : Thallus lichenicolous, immersed in host (species of Candelariella). Epithecium smoky blue, greenish blue or emerald-green. Ascospores ellipsoidal, the ends rounded, 7–12(–13) × (4–) 5–6(–7) μm.

S: Canterbury (near Ball Hut Tasman Glacier). On rock outcrop, collected in 1966 by Brian Fineran (Hertel 1989). Still very poorly known in New Zealand and should be looked for in high-alpine and other environments where species of Candelariella grow. A characteristic species having an arctic-alpine to boreal-montane distribution, lichenicolous on species of Candelariella (e.g. C. vitellina, C. coralliza). Widespread in Europe, Scandinavia, Tibet, North America and Greenland (Alstrup & Hawksworth 1990; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Triebel & Scholz 2001; Diederich 2003; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Knoph et al. 2004; Obermayer 2004; Santesson et al. 2004).

Bipolar

Exsiccati : Hertel (1987a: 2).

* Carbonea vitellinaria is characterised by: the lichenicolous habit (Candelariella as host); the greenish blue epithecium; and ascospores 7–12(–13) × (4–)5–6(–7) μm.