Description: This is a minute ephemeral lichen of wet clay banks, a habitat that is easily neglected. The only collection from Ireland was made from County Kerry in the mid-nineteenth century. The thallus is composed of tiny granules (goniocysts), somewhat resembling Placynthiella icmalea and with green algal cells. Discs (0.2-0.6mm diam.) are hemispherical, brown-black.

Key Identification Features:

• Tiny scatter of granules over wet clay banks (possibly among woodland)
• Discs to 0.6mm diam., spores simple 25-38ųm long (larger than in Placynthiella).

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Aphanopsis coenosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.