Irish lichens

Vahliella leucophaea, Fuscopannaria leucophaea

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

Vahliella leucophaea, Fuscopannaria leucophaea

Vahliella leucophaea, Fuscopannaria leucophaea

Vahliella leucophaea, Fuscopannaria leucophaea
Vahliella leucophaea (Fuscopannaria leucophaea). June and October 2009

Please contact me if you find errors. All images used are copyright.