Irish lichens
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Order: Pertusariales
Family: Megasporaceae
Species: Aspicilia epiglypta Photos: On coastal rock. Toormore, Cork, SW Ireland. Thallus is cracked and areolate, pale fawn or greyish-fawn, often with a yellowish tinge and surrounded by a black prothallus. The irregular, angular areoles are shiny, roundly warted and usually smooth but isidia and soredia are absent. Small black apothecia with (1-)2-5 in each areole. Spores simple, 20-25 x 12 x 15 µm. Conidia 15-28 x 1 µm. Chemical reactions K+ red, P+ yellow-orange An infrequent coastal species on nutrient-enriched granite rocks and schist, usually in sunny situations. Probably the rarest of the Aspicilia cinerea aggregate. Length of conidia is important for certain identification but need to be measured in the spring! |
Aspicilia epiglypta. January 2009