Amandinea punctata

Description

A grey, or grey-green lichen that forms a crust that is studded with black button like growths (apothecia). The crust is often thin, but occasionally thicker.

Similar Species

It can be confused with Lecidella elaeochroma but the diameter of the apothecia in Lecidella are larger, particularly in young specimens (up to 1mm), but only up to 0.5mm in Amandinea punctata. Also the apothecia rim is wider in young L. elaeochroma. The safest way to differentiate then is with the bleach test, L. elaeochroma gives a strong orange reaction whereas A. punctata is weak, barely pale yellow.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Fence posts, rocks, bird perches.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

It is tolerant of air pollution and farm fertilizers.

UK Status

Widespread and quite frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Lichens
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Teloschistales
Family:
Caliciaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
6
First record:
26/02/2012 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
16/01/2022 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records