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© Mike Simms

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(Map updated: 11 August 2009)

This small, elegant, rosette-forming, foliose lichen with a yellow-green thallus and browner centre is a species of siliceous habitats, especially pebbles, granitic monuments and chippings. Its narrow, radiating lobes tightly attach it to the substratum. The thallus is spotted with large heaps of domed soredia that are K+ orange, Pd + orange. It behaves as a pioneer species on low siliceous rocks and some man-made habitats. It is relatively common on suitable habitats in Ireland.

Key characteristics

• The small adpressed yellow-green thallus and discrete, round, paler grey soralia indicate this species
• It is only likely to be confused with the much rarer Arctoparmelia incurva which is yellower with narrower, incurved lobe tips and soralia confined to the inner lobes only.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey