Description: This is a tricky lichen to identify without recourse to microscope or chemicals. Much can be gained from a study of the habitat which for M. sylvicola is sheltered outcrops and boulders in rough, stony woodland. Shaded acid rock is always a gold mine for the Micarea tribe for this is where they flourish. M. sylvicola has a scurfy-cracked, bluish-grey thallus with discs to 0.5mm diameter. It is most easily confused with M. bauschiana and M. lutulata. The former has smaller discs and is never ‘bluish’ while the latter has a reddish-brown pigmentation deep in the disc. South-eastern Ireland but probably overlooked elsewhere.

Key Identification Features:

• Blue-tinged thallus with discs (when flat) to 0.5mm diameter, disc with black or dark purple-brown pigments
• On shaded acid rock in woodland.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Brianaria sylvicola at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.