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(Map updated: 11 August 2009)

This ‘scripture lichen’ is instantly recognisable. With a grey thallus, sometimes barely developed as such and therefore hardly obvious to the observer, it is the black, slit-like discs (0.5-3.0mm long) which grab the attention as they sit wholly perched on the surface of the thallus in tiny, scattered, unbranched clusters. The species is a feature of upland woodlands with high rainfall. It is frequent on the smooth bark of old, crooked holly stands and also on oak. North and west Ireland.

Key characteristics

• Thin, grey thallus scattered with black, slit-like discs very like scraps of broken pencil lead stuck there with a drop of glue. Only likely to be confused with non-lichenised bark fungi
• On the leached bark of trees in the high rainfall woodlands of the west.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini