Description: As one of Ireland’s smallest lichens, M. nitschkeana grows widely on tiny twigs and branches especially those of heather, ling and gorse. It is close to M. denigrata in disc and spore details (mostly three-septate) but in Ireland is very rarely reported from untreated timber. It also has different pycnidia. When in doubt, the small discs (0.1-0.3mm diam.) which can be scattered or clustered will separate it from related lichens such as M. lignaria or M. peliocarpa (both described elsewhere). Throughout, except in south-west Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Specialist habitat of twigs of tiny acid-barked shrubs such as heather
• Very small discs, grey to black; rarely on timber.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Micarea nitschkeana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.