Description: This lichen could almost be Tephromela atra so alike are they, but differs in having a more warted and a slightly duller thallus with rounded discs. The best way to distinguish them is to pick away at the discs with a fingernail. In L. gangaleoides, orange arthraquinones are stored below the surface of the crust in the medulla and so should be exposed. Try this scratch test in a couple of different places. It is essentially a coastal lichen species and in places both it and Tephromela atra grow side by side. In Ireland it appears more frequent in the north and west.

Key Identification Features:

• Duller thallus and more rounded discs than its lookalike Tephromela atra
• Has orange pigmentation in the medulla: a scratch test should be carried out as explained above. Coastal.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Lecanora gangaleoides at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.