ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > TELOSCHISTALES > Teloschistaceae

Genus Caloplaca, meaning 'beautiful patches'

Common name:            Sulphur-firedot lichen

Synonym:                    Gyalolechia flavovirescens

Habitat:                         Coastal

Substrata:                     Rock

Growth form:                Saxicolous

Thallus:                  Crustose

Apothecia:                    Lecideine

BLS identity rating:        Graded 2/5 (visual identification possible with care)

Thallus can be quite large, up to 15cm across, faintly granular with irregular angular areoles, but often rather thin, greenish- yellow to lemon-yellow with lighter mottling when moist, more dull orange-grey when dry, or even grey-brownish when horizontal, surrounded by a pale prothallus; apothecia numerous, distributed all over the surface right up to the edge of the prothallus, up to 1mm dia., brownish-orange, brighter when wet, convex with a paler margin.

Occurring mostly on calcareous rock or coastal acidic rocks from the higher xeric supralateral zone and even inland on siliceous stones of walls and man-made structures. Often found as isolated specimens.