Description: Recorded just once in Ireland from County Galway, Thermutis is an ephemeral ‘will-o-the-wisp’ species of watery gullies fed by calcareous seepage and low, dapple-shaded river boulders. The thallus is a fine mesh of brown-black fungal filaments (Scytonema) forming little pads surmounted by near-translucent pore-capped discs, without which the species is impossible to identify. Even after collection, the discs are difficult to preserve intact. It is a real test of field skill to ever track it down.

Key Identification Features:

• Short-lived lichen with a soft, thickish filamentous thallus; wet mountain gullies and bouldery stretches of rivers
• Discs tiny like a drop of jelly, rather bloated, semi-translucent with a pore at the top.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Thermutis velutina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.