Description: In the drier parts of Ireland where standing deadwood or old garden sheds are left to decay, this lichen can colonise the lignum surfaces with a multitude of overlapping, shoehorn-shaped squamules. These are grey-brown when dry, the unattached edge angled upwards and dusted with soredia. As colonies develop, black discs emerge covered with an icing of bluish pruina. Thallus is C+ red. Eastern and southern Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus of grey-brown, overlapping squamules, C+ red; squamule edge sorediate
• Uncommonly with discs, but these black with a bloom of blue pruina; deadwood, old wooden structures, sandstone gravestones and very acid barked trees.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Hypocenomyce scalaris at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.