Description: Known as the tarn lecanora, L. achariana is a rare lichen of upland loughs and tarns. It has the appearance of Lecanora muralis (described elsewhere) when growing on horizontal rock surfaces, but is more loosely attached with irregular rosettes of pale yellow-green thallus predominating. In Ireland, the species is confined to one high-level tarn in County Kerry, but it should be searched for elsewhere where loughs are in a natural state and lough-edge boulders are enriched with bird droppings.

Key Identification Features:

• Like Lecanora muralis but more loosely attached and easily fragmenting. The pale yellow-green rosettes form conspicuous patches, often on the tops of projecting rocks and boulders found along the margins of tarns or loughs
• Its appearance lies somewhere between that of Lecanora muralis and Squamarina cartilaginea.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Protoparmeliopsis achariana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.