Family: Vahliellaceae Species: Vahliella leucophaea (Previously Fuscopannaria leucophaea.) Growth type squamulose. Photos: In crevice in coastal rocks. Snave, Cork, SW Ireland. Thallus forms thickly packed crust of grey-brown to blackish, +/- rounded, adpressed squamules. Black hypothallus. Frequent, often clustered brown-black apothecia, the rim becoming excluded. Variable, in exposed sites hypothallus is much reduced, squamules become imbricate and the apothecia are dark brown-black. Asci are 8-spored, spores simple, 15-17 x 5-6 µm, often with oil droplets. Occurs on western and northern Irish coasts in sheltered crevices in +/- basic rocks. Occasionally found at base of coastal trees. Chemical reactions negative.

Vahliella leucophaea (Fuscopannaria leucophaea). June and October 2009