Description: This distinctive lichen of granitic boulder-tops in exposed, upland areas has the appearance of a brown-black, cushion moss, flattened and combed across its surface surmounted by numerous, shiny, brown-black discs. Close inspection shows the thallus to be made up of stiff, narrow, semi-erect, flattened branches very firmly attached to the substratum; discs (up to 6mm wide) are sometimes spiny-edged. Thalli of two to four centimetres diam. are typical. Its stronghold in Ireland is west Donegal, rare elsewhere.

Key Identification Features:

• Coarsely cushion-moss-like; brown-black with dense, narrow, flattened branches with black-pimpled edges
• Discs brown-black, often numerous, shiny; coarse acid rock and boulders.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cornicularia normoerica at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.