Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Calicium brunneolum Ach., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 1816: 279 (1816).

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 86); Tibell (1987: 77).

Chemistry : K−, C−, Pd+ yellow-red or Pd−; containing either two unidentified Pd+ compounds, or no secondary compounds (Tibell 1987).

N: Northland (Puketi) to Wellington (Tararua Ra.). S: Nelson (Tasman Mts) to Southland (Pourakino Valley). On lignum of beech (Nothfagus fusca, N. menziesii, N. solandri), kauri, rimu, kaikawaka, manuka, broadleaf and Vitex lucens, s.l. to 1280 m. Widely distributed in both tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres: Eurasia, Taiwan, North America, Africa, Australia, Central and South America (Tibell 1999c: 32; Sparrius et al. 2002a; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Tibell & Thor 2003; Hermansson & Pystina 2004).

Cosmopolitan

Exsiccati : Tibell (1982: Nos 56, 57).

Illustrations : Tibell (1987: 77, fig. 48; 1996: 31, fig. 19A; 1999c: 83); Wirth (1995b: 279); Kantvilas & Jarman (1999: 7); Dobson (2000: 112; 2005: 121); Brodo et al. (2001: 222, pl. 196).

Chaenotheca brunneola is characterised by: its medium-sized apothecia, the small spores, the association with Dictyochloropsis or trebouxioid algae, and the frequently Pd+ yellow to yellowish red thallus. The thallus may be completely immersed or granular to farinaceous. A very variable taxon.