Description: About the same size as both Physcia adscendens and P. tenella (both described elsewhere), this is also a characteristic species of the twigs and lesser branches of basic barked and nutrient-rich shrubs. However, P. leptalea is a far more distinguished and elegant plant; it lacks the soredia of P. tenella and the hood-like lobe ends of P. adscendens. Instead it is often luxuriantly fertile (covered in discs) and densely whiskery due to the abundance of long, marginal cilia. Though mainly coastal in Britain, Ireland’s maritime climate enables it to be found throughout all the provinces.

Key Identification Features:

• Physcia leptalea is nearly always abundantly fertile and wreathed in marginal cilia
• It lacks soredia and inflated lobe ends.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Physcia leptalea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.