Description: This is a lichen of soily banks or cuttings shaded by overhanging trees. In Ireland, it is rather rare. The thin grey to green-brown grainy thallus lays over the surface of the soil like a moist film (in dry weather like shrivelled clear-film plastic) scattered with bright, pale green soralia which catch the eye. The grey-black discs grow to 1.6mm diam. and are rarely prominent; the spores are simple. It is a lichen to search for after rain.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus grey or grey-green, a membrane or near transparent film on clay-like soils of slopes and embankments; soralia frequent, scattered, pale green
• Discs grey-black containing simple spores; spot tests negative.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Trapeliopsis gelatinosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.