Description: S. cartilaginea (var. cartilaginea) is a robust squamulose lichen of calcareous rocks, mosses and soils. The paths of limestone cliffs are a favourite habitat. The large, frosted, pale-green to yellowish-brown squamules (PD+ yellow medulla) form tight or loosely overlapping crusts. Brown, almost rimless discs when mature (3-4mm diam.) are frequent and clustered. In fact this species is not unlike a giant version of the urban roof dweller Lecanora muralis which is a useful image to have in mind when hunting it for the very first time. Scattered and local in Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Generally non-rosette-forming but with a yellow-green to occasionally pale brown squamulose thallus of wavy-edged, overlapping lobes with a thin frosting of pruina
• Crevices, soils, paths and tracks across stony calcareous terrain. A second chemical race (var. pseudocrassa) occurs away from the coast and has a PD- medulla.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Squamarina cartilaginea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.