Description: This small lichen forms a grey, warty-granular crust among bryophytes and soily debris at acid, ‘high ground’ sites, usually above 500m. The convex to almost globose discs are black and shiny and contain simple or one-septate spores. Similar species such as Micarea lignaria and Protomicarea limosa can be separated on the basis of their Pd+ reaction of the thallus. In Ireland, the species is known from Mount Brandon, County Kerry. Previous records come only from the Wicklow Mountains.

Key Identification Features:

• Grey warty crust of clustered granules growing on exposed mountain soils among mosses and liverworts; spores when mature one-septate
• Discs almost globose, black and glossy; reacts Pd-.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Gilbertaria contristans at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.