Flora of New Zealand Series

Thallus crustose, heteromerous. Photobiont green, Myrmecia, Coccobotrys, Pleurococcus, Heterococcus and possibly other genera. Ascocarps in the form of perithecia, simple or compound. Paraphyses becoming gelatinised. Ascospores colourless, ellipsoid, rarely globose or ovoid, simple, 8 per ascus.

Verrucaria is a very large genus of c. 300 species found mainly in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Numerous taxa were described from New Zealand last century but many were subsequently referred to Anthracothecium, Arthopyrenia, Clathroporina, Microthelia, Parmentaria, Polyblastia, Porina and Pyrenula. Species occurring in New Zealand are discussed by Santesson [ Ark. Bot. 29 A (10): 1-67 (1939)], Zahlbruckner [ Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien math.-naturwiss. Kl. 104: 249-251 (1941)] and Lamb [ Discovery Repts 25: 17-21 (1948)] although a comprehensive treatment of the genus in New Zealand has yet to be made.

Useful information on the genus is given by Swinscow [ Lichenologist 4: 34-54 (1968)] and Fletcher [ Lichenologist 7: 24-27 (1975)]. In the present account which is merely a compilation and in no sense a revision, 10 species are discussed.