Clarification regarding old records of Roccella in the Maltese Islands

The only checklist of lichens of the Maltese Islands dates back to 1915 and includes both Roccella phycopsis and R. tinctoria. Material present in local collections and carrying the labels Roccella fucoides, R. phycopsis and R. tinctoria were examined and all were found to be Roccella phycopsis. Fresh specimens of Roccella from different areas were also collected and identified. Study has lead to the conclusion that early records of R. tinctoria are incorrect and that to date the only species of this genus found in the Maltese Islands is Roccella phycopsis Ach.peer-reviewe