Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen frigidus Sw., Meth, Musc.: 36 (1781).

Description : Flora (1985: 322).

Chemistry : Cortex K−, C+ rose, KC+ red, Pd−; containing gyrophoric (major) and lecanoric (minor) acids.

S: Nelson (St Arnaud Ra.), Canterbury (Godley Valley), Otago (Humboldt Mts, Kakanui Mts, Mt Pisgah, Poolburn Reservoir, Old Man Ra., Rock & Pillar Ra.). St: (Mt Anglem). A subalpine to high-alpine species often on decaying litter and overgrowing mosses, and probably more widespread than present records show. It is rarely fertile in New Zealand. A widespread arctic–alpine species (Purvis et al. 1992; Tønsberg 1992b; Santesson 1993; Esslinger & Egan 1995; Hansen 1995; Scholz 2000; Brodo et al. 2001; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004; Dobson 2005), and known also from southern South America, Antarctica, and Tasmania (Galloway & Quilhot 1999; Messuti & Lumbsch 2000; Øvstedal & Lewis Smith 2001; McCarthy 2003c, 2006) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bipolar

Illustrations : Hansen (1995: 103); Messuti & Lumbsch (2000: 37); Dobson (2000: 242; 2005: 284); Øvstedal & Lewis Smith (2001: pls 54, 55); Brodo et al. (2001: 466, fig. 542); Pope (2005: 48).

Ochrolechia frigida is characterised by: the terricolous/muscicolous habit; the whitish to grey-white or greenish white, granular–papillate thallus that often develops creamish or buff, long, spiny outgrowths with splayed ends, resembling a small pile of fish bones.