Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen hyperboreus Ach., K. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 15: 89 (1794).

Description : Flora (1985: 591–592).

Chemistry : Gyrophoric (major), lecanoric and umbilicaric (minor) acids (Posner et al. 1992; Narui et al. 1996).

N: Wellington (Ruapehu). S: Canterbury (Port Hills, Torlesse Ra., Mt Hutt, Mt Peel, Mt Cooper upper Murchison Valley, Grampian Mts), Otago (Ahuriri Valley, St Mary's Ra., Mt Ida, Mt Pisgah, Rough Ridge, Dunstan Mts, Mt Pisa, Earnslaw Burn, Kea Basin, The Remarkables, Pisa Ra., Dunstan Mts, Old Man Ra., Rock & Pillar Ra., Umbrella Mts, Blue Mts). On exposed tops of rock slabs and outcrops in full sunlight, 800–2134 m. Known also from Scotland, the European Alps, Scandinavia, Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland, North America, Siberia, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Japan and Australia (Frey 1931, 1933, 1936b; Llano 1950; Purvis et al. 1992; Nimis 1993; Santesson 1993; Hansen 1995; Elvebakk & Hertel 1996; Galloway & Quilhot 1999; Brodo et al. 2001; Coppins 2002b; McCarthy 2003c, 2006; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Hestmark 2004; Santesson et al. 2004; Elvebakk & Bjerke 2006).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Frey (1933: 348, fig. 52); Llano (1950: 269, pl. 24, fig. 1); Hale (1969: 140, fig. 255); Henssen (1970: 110, fig. 5E; 124, pl. 2G; 126, pl. 4G); Yoshimura (1974: pl. 23, fig. 202); Jahns (1980: 221, pl. 536); Moberg & Holmåsen (1982: 155); Thomson (1984: 453); Hale & Cole (1988: 118, fig. 48A); Vitt et al. (1988: 241); Goward et al. (1994b: 129, fig. 16A); Johnson et al. (1995: 351); McCune & Geiser (1997: 294); St. Clair (1999: 200); Brodo et al. (2001: 703, pl. 863); Pope (2005: 43).

Umbilicaria hyperborea is characterised by: the saxicolous habit; the monophyllous thallus, sometimes secondarily lobulate over the umbilicus and appearing polyphyllous; the pustulate-ridged, dark-brown to brown-black upper surface; the smooth, brown to blackish lower surface, without thalloconidia or rhizinomorphs; and sessile, black, gyrose apothecia.