It occurs in many species of lichens including "Roccella tinctoria" and "Lecanora". This includes royal purple colors derived from roccella tinctoria, also known as . This includes royal purple colors derived from roccella tinctoria, also known as orseille. A major source is the archil lichen, "Roccella tinctoria". Around 1720, the fungus "Roccella tinctoria" was discovered, which was traded as a textile dye.