ASCOMYCOTA | LICHINOMYCETES > CANDELARIALES > Candelariaceae

Genus Candelariella, meaning 'little candle'

Common name:            Members of the genus collectively known as 'goldenspeck lichens'

Synonym:                    -

Habitat:                         Coastal (for this entry)

Substrata:                     Rock and stone

Growth form:                Saxicolous

Thallus:                  Crustose - placodioid

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine, although normally absent

BLS identity rating:        Graded 1/5 (identification should be straightforward)

Thallus usually clearly defined, circular or rosette, typically 2-4cm across, but often joined up to form larger patches; radiating lobes, flattened or slightly convex, tight against each other and continuous, a little pruinose, yellow, looking bright when dry and in the sun, but more grey-yellow, even a little greenish, when in the shade; the centre of the thallus is often areolate, tending to become granular-warty, turning yellowish-grey to almost black, or even completely disappearing; apothecia are rare or absent, around 1mm dia, discs flat, brown-yellow with a smooth or crenulate margin that disappears rapidly. Distinguished from Caloplaca species by a K- reaction if tested.

Still considered a rare species on natural calcareous rocks, although now abundant in the southeast and across much of the south in both shaded and sunny nutrient-rich man-made locations, such as in churchyards or on village walls; becoming much scarcer further west and north.

The following photos were taken at Portland Bill on a couple of the large cut rocks that have been put in place to edge the car park, and which are often used by various seabirds as perching stones.