Order: Lecanorales       Family: Micareaceae Species: Micarea peliocarpa Growth type crustose, granular. Photos: Co. Cork, SW Ireland. Specimens identified by John Douglass Very variable. Thallus immersed or of small, grey or greenish-grey, convex or sub-globose granules. Apothecia variable, white, blue-grey or black. When on wood or bark pycnidia can be frequent. Spores (1-)3(-5 septate, (11-)15-23 x 3-5(-6) µm. Microscope photograph below. Thallus, apothecia and pycnidia: K-, C +/- red, P- Found on acidic substrates, rocks, bark and heather stems. Usually occurs in upland areas, to 500m. Similar: Micarea lignaria

Microscope photograph

Micarea peliocarpa. October 2009 and April 2012