ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > PERTUSARIALES > Pertusariaceae

Genus Pertusaria, meaning 'bored-though' - from the shape of the apothecia of the type species

Common name:            Pierced Lichen

Synonym:                    Pertusaria communis

Habitat:                         Woodland and wayside trees

Substrata:                     Bark, occasionally rock and stone

Growth form:                Corticolous (saxicolous)

Thallus:                  Crustose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine

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

Thallus rather thick, smooth to lightly roughened, sometimes lightly cracked, often appearing shiny; pale grey to greenish grey, sometimes limited by a paler-coloured prothallus; usually fertile with apothecia in concolourous, irregular and often distorted, semi-globose wart-like protuberances, to 2mm dia., constricted at the base with a slightly flattened top, scattered or crowded, 2-7 apothecia immersed in each wart, discs normally seen as minute dark pits, although sometimes they are slightly open and more disc-like.

Pertusaria pertusais a common and widespread species occurring on both smooth and rough barked trees, often growing amongst mosses; more rarely on silicious rocks, memorials or old walls.