Candelariella vitellina (Hoffm.) Müll.Arg.
Lichen vitellinus Ehrh., Pl. crypt. exs.: 155 (1785).
Thallus lemon-yellow to yolk-yellow, mustard to brown-yellow, ± olive-greenish in shade, dull, granular to verrucose-areolate, the granules to 0.2 mm broad but frequently flattened and forming masses to 5 mm broad, in groups, the colour very variable. Apothecia to 1.5 mm wide, often crowded, sessile, flat to subconvex, margins entire or becoming granular-sorediate or entirely disappearing, flexuose or crenulate. Ascospores numerous (12-30 per ascus), colourless, oblong to ellipsoid, slightly curved, apices rounded, 9-15 × 4.5-6.5 µm. Chemistry: Calycin and pulvinic dilactone.
N: Auckland to Wellington. S: Nelson to Southland. St: C: Jacquemart I. Very widespread, on rocks (often on bird perching stones at sea shore or in the mountains above bushline), decorticated wood (fenceposts, gates, etc.) and concrete. It appears characteristic of moderately polluted and eutrophic habitats.
Cosmopolitan
The thallus is very variable but is easily distinguished from that of the related Candelaria concolor which is lobate-squamulose and ± densely granular sorediate-isidiate, and not verrucose-areolate.
