ASCOMYCOTA LECANOROMYCETES > UMBILICARIALES > Ophioparmaceae

Genus Ophioparma, meaning 'snake-like shield' - from the serpentine undulations of the apothecia margins

Common name:            Alpine Blood-spot Lichen

Synonyms:                    Forma ventosa, Haematomma ventosum

Habitat:                         Montane and upland

Substrata:                     Rock

Growth form:                Saxicolous

Thallus:                  Crustose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine

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

Thallus rather thick, with large, more or less rounded, areoles with a warty surface, usually well delimited by a rather pale prothallus; often coexisting side by side, there are two chemical variants of the species; the first, forma ventosa, with a pale yellowish thallus, contains usnic acid; the other, forma subfestiva, without usnic acid has a whitish-grey thallus.

Apothecia, usually quite abundant, generally scattered or in small groups, the colour of the discs is slightly variable, always red, but sometimes bright red, other times darker, but more often than not could be described as blood-red, giving rise to the common name, they grow to around 3-4mm dia., initially flat with a sharp thalline rim, concolourous with the thallus, that becomes reduced as the apothecia mature.

The species is relatively common in upland areas, particularly in the Scottish Highlands, where it occurs on exposed, nutrient-poor, rough, silicious rocks and boulders. In Austria, where the following photos were taken, it is described as an "arctic- alpine circumpolar lichen found on steeply inclined surfaces of siliceous rocks in wind-exposed situations, most frequently above the treeline; widespread throughout the siliceous Alps".