ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > LECANORALES > Lecanoracea

Genus Lecanora, meaning 'beautiful small bowl' - from the shape of the apothecia

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

Synonym:                     Lecanora pallida

Primary habitat:            Woodland, wayside trees

Usual substrata:            Bark

Growth form:                Corticolous

Thallus:                  Crustose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine

BLS identity rating:        Graded 3/5 (requires spot-testing to confirm)

Thallus forming small, clearly delimited, patches; surface smooth to slightly granular, often crazed or areolate towards the centre; greyish-white to medium grey, usually with a white prothallus.

Apothecia frequently abundant, more or less scattered across most of the thallus, although sometimes clustered and possibly a little distorted; sessile, slightly constricted at the base; 0.5-1.5mm dia., with a well-developed thalline margin, usually entire and conspicuous, although occasionally becoming crenulate or excluded with age; disc typically pinkish to rose, occasionally buff or pale brown, but with the true colour often obscured due to the presence of densely white pruinose.

Lecanora albella is reasonably common and widespread across the south, but becoming scarce further north. It mainly occurs on slightly acidic deciduous trees, on the trunk, including Oak where there are smooth areas, main branches, and particularly smaller branches and twigs.

The species is separated from the very similar Leconora carpinea, which has now been reclassified as Glaucomaria carpinea. Whilst both species require spot-testing to confirm, the example featured here is likely.