Hypogymnia physodes

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    Alt Name
    Dark Crottle
    Description

     

    Thallus foliose, lobes smooth and reflective above, flat to convex, hollow, pale to green-grey, dark brown to black beneath and lacking rhizines, tips often turned up and sorediate; apothecia rare, stalked, with red-brown discs.
    Similar Species

    Very variable and, when lobes are flat, can resemble Hypotrachyna laevigata, but the latter is larger and has repeatedly-branched rhizines beneath.

    Identification difficulty
    Recording advice

    Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

    Habitat

    On acid-barked trees and heather (Calluna) stems, also terrestrial on base-poor dunes.

    When to see it

    All year round.

    UK Status

    Throughout Britain and often very common.

    VC55 Status

    Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.

    • Geoffrey Hall
      Shepshed, Ives Head
      04 December 2011
    • Geoffrey Hall
      Shepshed, Ives Head
      04 December 2011

    Leicestershire & Rutland Map

    MAP KEY:

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

    UK Map