Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Roccella galapagoensis
orchilla falsa, False orchil
Thallus main branches terete, secondary branches occasionally partially compressed but not distinctly flattened, smooth or foveate, usually 5–20 cm long, brownish grey to grey; soredia absent; medulla compact sometimes coalescent, usually ochre to brownish or in lower branches often dark brown. Ascomata present, circular in outline but often with undulating margin, sessile with constricted base, rarely immersed; ascospores, 22–27 × 5–6 μm (average = 23 × 5.5 μm). Spot tests: medulla K–, C–; cortex K–, C– or C+ red; disc C–. Secondary metabolites erythrin, galapagin, portentol, protocetraric acid, roccellic acid, roccellin, acetyl-portentol (Follmann & al., 1993).
Roccella galapagoensis is characterized by its fertile, non-sorediate thallus as compared to the otherwise morphologically identical sterile, sorediate species R. margaritifera, R. nigerrima and R. lirellina. Roccella galapagoensis is a very plastic and variable species, morphologically, chemically and genetically. It contains numerous either C+ red or C– chemotypes without any clear morphological discontinuities to distinguish between them. All chemotypes are evenly dispersed geographically.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Arthoniomycetes
Order
Arthoniales
Family
Roccellaceae
Genus
Roccella
Species
galapagoensis
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Roccella geniculata, R. glebaria, R. obscurissima Follmann & B. Werner, R. geniculata Follmann & B. Werner, R. fusca B. Werner nom. nud., R. glebaria B. Werner & Follmann nom. nud., R. colonii Follmann, R. capitata Follmann nom. nud., fide Tehler et al. (2009); Holotype: Galápagos, South Plaza Island, abundant on seaward vertical sides of boulders on highest points (S side), ca. 50 ft elev., 1964, W.A. Weber L-39130, Lichenes Exsiccati no. 112; Isotypes: COLO-184895, 186050, UPS, M-0024655, H, S-L21409
Origin: Endemic
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Growing in coastal regions on the vertical rocks and cliffs.
- Schofield, E.K. (1984) Plants of the Galapagos Islands. Field Guide and Travel Journal. Universe Books, New York, 159 pp.
- Weber, W.A. (1986) The Lichen Flora of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Mycotaxon 27: 451-497.
- Elix, J.A. McCarthy, P.M. (1998) Catalogue of the Lichens of the Smaller Pacific Islands. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 70, J. Cramer, Berlin, Stuttgart, 361pp.
- Weber, W.A. (1981) Lichenes Exsiccati, distributed by the University of Colorado Museum, Boulder, Fasc. 1-15, nos. 1-600, 1961-1979. Mycotaxon 13(1): 85-104.
- Tehler, A. Irestedt, M., Bungartz, F. & Wedin, M. (2009) Evolution and reproduction modes in the Roccella galapagoensis aggregate (Roccellaceae, Arthoniales) Taxon 58(2): 438-456.
- Tehler, A. (2007) The Roccella lirellina and R. galapagoensis aggregates, taxonomy and nomenclature In: I. Kärnefelt & A. Thell (eds.): Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 95: 517-530.
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This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Roccella galapagoensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=3358. Accessed 25 September 2025.