Description: This is a rare species of dry bark, especially that of old and ancient trees. It is usually found growing below large overhanging oak boughs. It is not hard to identify. It has a thick white thallus scattered with oval or short, broad discs (lirellae, to 1.5mm long) frosted grey with pruina (C-) sometimes appearing to form lines. Arthonia pruinata (described elsewhere) can look similar but is C+ red. There are very few sites for L. lyncea in Ireland, but isolated ancient oaks (250+ years old) should be targeted as its major habitat. Search old oak boundary trees that have escaped the traumas of time, still standing in former estate parklands, Counties Fermanagh and Laois only.

Key Identification Features:

• Snow-white thallus, sprinkled with small, black, grey-frosted discs (C-)
• On old dry, oak bark, especially in the angle below boughs.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Lecanographa lyncea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.