Lichens : Lecanorales : LecanoraceaeLichens

Myriolecis congesta Clauzade & Vězda

Description: Absent from the British Isles, this lichen has only been recorded once from sea cliffs in County Down 150 years ago. It resembles L. albescens but the slightly lobed thallus (to 1cm diam.) which has a habit of disintegrating in the middle, tests C+ pink to red (not C+ orange) and is UV-. Now believed extinct, but look out for it on steeply sloping north-facing limestone cliffs.

Key Identification Features:

  • Thallus not pruinose; like L. albescens but with slightly lobed edges and disintegrating centres; C+ pink-red
  • Steeply sloping north-facing limestone cliffs; currently extinct.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Myriolecis congesta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

 Giavarini, Vince J., Simms, Michael J., & Davey, Simon, 2026. Myriolecis congesta. Clauzade & Vězda. [In] Lichen Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/lichenireland/species.php?item=18583. Accessed on 2026-11-12.