Description: On mossy, broadleaved trees in the sheltered woodlands of the west it is very possible you might come across this species. It has a strong smell of antiseptic when wet. Well-developed material forms conspicuous rosettes with radiating marginal lobes. The whole thallus is squamulose (of flat, grey-brown to red-brown, rubbery scales with granular margins), the squamules 2-3mm wide but extending to 5mm towards the edge of the thallus. A black hypothallus (the base on which the squamules are fastened) is often visible. Western and south-western Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus with antiseptic smell (check out this first) and radiating marginal lobes (always worth looking around for better developed material if you sense you may have stumbled across this species)
• Many grey to red-brown squamules larger than 2mm (commonly on hazel and sallow in best habitats).

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Parmeliella testacea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.