Description: This rather handsome lichen of siliceous rock has a scaly thallus of red-brown squamules which may look like large granules from a distance. It is reminiscent of Acarospora, but differs in the minutely cracked aggregations of squamules scattered with black discs surrounded by raised black rims. It grows best on sandstones, schistose rock and weathered granites. The rounded spores are arranged in a neat line in the ascus, something lichen-hunters describe as uniseriate. In Ireland, the species is best known from County Kerry.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus red-brown, squamulose with black, occasionally immersed, fruitgum-like discs (0.5–1.2mm diam.)
• Acid rocks: sandstones and schists.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Schaereria cinereorufa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.