Flora of New Zealand Series

L. coccodes sensu C.Knight, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 12: 376 (1880) non (Bél.) Nyl., Bull. Soc. linn. Normandie, sér. 2, 2: 89 (1869) [now referred to Megalospora coccodes (Bél.) Sipman (Sipman 1983: 132)].

Holotype: New Zealand. Sine loco [probably Wellington], Charles Knight – WELT Vol. 48A p. 3. Isotype – UPS.

Description : Flora (1985: 228 – as Lecidea coccodes).

Chemistry : Not tested.

N: Wellington. S: Westland (Kelly's Creek). St: Throughout on podocarp scales, pine tree (Pinus insignis) bark and on Pseudowintera.

Endemic

Illustration : Knight (1880: pl. XIII, fig. 42 – as Lecidea coccodes).

Lecidea coccodes is characterised by: the corticolous habit; the ochraceous–olivaceous, squamulose–areolate thallus; reddish brown to black apothecia, translucent when moist; a brown-yellow to red-brown hypothecium; and ovoid ascospores, 15 × 9 μm, with numerous oil droplets. As indicated above, this species is not correctly accommodated in Lecidea s. str.