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(Map updated: 11 August 2009)

In the dark and distant days of lichenology this lichen carried the binomial name of B. muscorum which beautifully described its habit of overgrowing the mosses of calcareous rocks, walls, grasslands and dunes. Initially, the granular-warted, green-white thallus gives rise to flat, black discs. These however, become rounder, and more convex with age. Spores are sickle-shaped, three- to seven-septate. It has a sparse, widely scattered distribution in Ireland with surprisingly few records from the Burren.

Key characteristics

• Moss-inhabiting lichen of calcareous rocks; discs black, flat at first then convex, spores sickle-shaped
• Distinguished from Bilimbia sabuletorum (described elsewhere) by the darker discs and spore shape.

NBN Atlas mapping: Species account : NBN Atlas UK Species Observations database

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini