Description: Like E. lanata (described elsewhere), but the generally smaller thallus has abundant, short, coarse, lateral branchlets (often described as ‘spine-like’) which give it a more distinctly woolly rather than a silky, ‘hair-like’ appearance. Its habitat is damp, siliceous rocks. In Ireland, it occurs in Counties Kerry and Donegal but was historically known also from County Antrim and Achill Island.

Key Identification Features:

• Has a woolly ‘Brillo-pad’ texture due to the frequent presence of short, spiny branchlets
• Like E. lanata, it is a species of damp or irrigated acid rock surfaces.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Ephebe hispidula at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.