Flora of New Zealand Series

≡Lichen inquinans Sm., in J.E. Smith & J. Sowerby, Engl.Bot. 12: 810 (1801).

=Pyrgillus crassus Js.Murray, Trans. Roy. Soc. N. Z. 88: 184 (1960).

Pyrgillus crassus. Holotype: New Zealand. Otago, Green Hill (Silver Peaks), on line of old fenceposts, J. Murray 4203 – OTA.

Description : Flora (1985: 148–149).

Chemistry : Thallus K+ yellow to reddish brown, C−, Pd+ yellow; containing atranorin and usnic acid (Tibell 1987).

S: Otago. Known in only one collection from Green Hill, Silver Peaks (holotype of Pyrgillus crassus). On lignum of fenceposts at c. 600 m (a habitat very similar to those favoured by this species in the Northern Hemisphere). Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere where it is known from Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and North America (Tibell 1999b; Nimis & Martellos 2003; Santesson et al. 2004; Tibell & Ryan 2004c; Hermansson & Pystina 2004). It also occurs in Australia and southern South America (Tibell 1987: 168; 1998a; McCarthy 2003c, 2006).

Cosmopolitan

Illustrations : Keissler (1938: 731, fig. 199; 741, figs 201, 202); Tibell (1987: 167, fig. 124); Wirth (1995a: 81, pl. 20B); Dobson (2000: 145; 2005: 158); Brodo et al. (2001: 292, pl. 298).

Cyphelium inquinans is characterised by: the usually well-developed grey thallus (K+ yellow to reddish brown, Pd+ yellow); the sessile apothecia with strongly thickened excipulum at base; and the medium-sized spores with a minute ornamentation of parallel ridges.