Rinodina peloleuca (physciaceae), a maritime lichen with a distinctive austral distribution

Abstract

Rinodina peloleuca (Physciaceae) is an austral, maritime lichen species occurring in Tasmania and New Zealand, in southern South America, on subantarctic islands, and in maritime Antarctica. Together with other species, it indicates an austral connection in maritime lichens of the Southern Hemisphere. Chemically, the species is characterised by the presence of skyrin and triterpenes. Rinodina antarctica, R. deceptionis, R. endochrysodes, R. philomelensis, and, possibly, R. aspicilina are synonyms of R. peloleuca. The lichenicolous fungi Muellerella lichenicola, Polycoccum sp., Pyrenidium actinellum, and an unidentified coelomycete occur on the species. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.