Flora of New Zealand Series

Lichen xanthostigma Pers., in Ach., Lich. Univ.: 403 (1810).

Thallus lemon yellow to yolk-yellow, farinose-leprose or minutely granular or dissolving in soredia, granules 30-60 µm diam., often widely dispersed. Apothecia rare, to 0.9 mm diam., adnate between soredia, plane to subconvex, margins thin, entire, becoming sorediate-leprose, concolorous with thallus. Epithecium granular, yellow to orange-yellow. Hymenium 65-75 µm tall. Hypothecium colourless. Paraphyses slender, subcapitate at apices, simple, rarely branched. Asci broadly clavate. Ascospores numerous, oblong to ovoid, 9-15 × 4-5 µm. Chemistry: Calycin and pulvinic dilactone.

S: Canterbury, on fenceposts in Hanmer State Forest, probably more widely distributed elsewhere.

Cosmopolitan