Description: The thallus of this crustose ‘scripture’ lichen is grey, smooth and sometimes wrinkled. The discs (lirellae) are furrowed either side of a central slit which gives it the appearance — as if from the air — of an elongated British Iron-Age hill fort with multiple ramparts. It is widely distributed on shaded, smooth-barked trees.

Key Identification Features:

• The discs (like bits of crushed pencil lead) are furrowed, rarely open in the centre and are never pruinose
• The ridged discs make this a heavyweight ‘scripture’ lichen.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Graphis elegans at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Graphis elegans at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.