Description: An attractive little crustose lichen of acid-barked trees, heather stems and fence posts, M. peliocarpa attracts attention through its tiny discs (0.2-0.4mm diam.) which are pale grey to blue-grey to black, sometimes with all three colour varieties on the one stem. Other Micarea species in similar habitats are unvarying in the colour of their discs (except for those in deep shade). A small speck of fresh bleach (C) on a crushed disc will turn it red. Search for it at the base of old heather stems which should not disappoint. Throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Discs with a range of colour variations; on heather stems and other acid-barked trees
• Discs also C + red.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Micarea peliocarpa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.