Description: This terricolous (ground-dwelling) lichen is a common sight among sandy or gravel soils in hilly, upland areas forming tight, green crusts in little patches. Close attention to detail will show the thallus made up of numerous green-grey, tiny rounded scales so distinctive it can be identified even when sterile. The fruits which are frequent are pink to brownish, and mostly stalked like small toadstools. It is a common species in suitably acidic habitats throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus composed of numerous green-grey, rounded scales which spread over the soil and between stable pebbles
• When fertile, the rounded and often brown, stalked, toadstool-like fruits are diagnostic.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Baeomyces rufus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.