Description: The thallus of this crustose lichen is grey-green, smooth to granular with a distinctive glossy sheen. The frequent, tiny pale brown discs (0.2–0.4mm diam.) give the impression of blobs of wax left to stand by the fire. They bring to mind Salvador Dali’s ‘melting’ clocks. Look for it in acid environments, especially old stumps of oak, birch and pine; it also grows on the tops of old peat hags. Most records are from Northern Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus grey-green, waxy, with discs that appear to be melting
• Only on acid-barked trees or peat; M. prasina can occur in similar habitats but lacks the shiny thallus.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Micarea adnata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.