Description: Among the mossy bark of mature broadleaved trees in established woodlands or parkland, look out for this species which shows only as tiny pale ochre to deep orange-red discs (little dots) with a roughened, frosted surface. Finding this species used to be regarded as an initiation test for those lichen apprentices wanting to step up a level to improve their identification skills. The thallus is scarcely visible, just a few granules. Discs touched with the tiniest amount of K (attached to the end of a probe) will turn red-purple. On ash and other basic-barked trees including oaks. Scattered, but local, in Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• On mossy tree bark dotted with minute, round, pale ochre to deep red-orange discs
• Discs roughened, frosted; K+ red-purple.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Piccolia ochrophora at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.