Click on the image to enlarge it in a new window

© Mike Simms

Click on map to open large map in new window
(Map updated: 11 August 2009)

This tiny, minutely clustered, flaky or spiky, yellow-orange to bright orange lichen is attracted to habitats with some nutrient enrichment; so occurs on enriched worked wood, enriched stone, enriched walls and more occasionally on enriched twigs. With a good hand lens or magnifying glass it should be possible to see the granular soredia attached to the edges of the ascending lobes. Discs (orange, wider than the lobes) are occasional. It is frequent in suitable habitats throughout Ireland.

Key characteristics

• The colour, minutely crushed Bran Flakes appearance, granular soredia on the lobes and specialised habitat should be enough to identify this species
• Xanthoria ucrainica is similar, but lemon-yellow with fan-shaped lobes.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey