Description: This species belongs to a suite of lichens that are occasionally found on the dry wood of fallen trees. The group includes Lecidea turgidula and Lecanora aitema and it is these species that can often cause confusion. L. turgidula has a dark disc surface (epithecium) that is commonly frosted when wet. Lecanora aitema has larger spores that are never slightly curved or occasionally one-septate like in L. hypopta. It also grows on acid-barked trees. In Ireland, only recorded from County Wicklow.

Key Identification Features:

• Spores 9-13ųm long, spuriously one-septate, sometimes slightly bent
• On dry acid bark and wood of fallen trunks, especially birch, oak and pine.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Lecanora phaeostigma at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.