Description: Soily crevices and ledges along sea cliffs are the main habitat of this widespread squamulose species. The beige to brown thallus is composed of tight-bound, overlapping scales (squamules) often bearing numerous, small (to 0.5mm-wide), brown circular discs with a tan-coloured edge (exciple) like a car tyre. Spores are one-septate. It is not unlike Psora lurida which grows away from sea cliffs on soils derived from hard limestones. Maritime areas throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Beige-brown thallus of overlapping squamules inhabiting soily sea-cliff crevices; discs neat, circular, brown with a tan rim and one-septate spores
• Could be confused with Psora lurida but that species has all brown discs, simple spores and grows on harder limestones, though there may be some habitat overlap in certain coastal areas (for example, Counties Clare and Donegal).

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Solenopsora holophaea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.