Description: This grey, crustose epiphyte of smooth, acid-barked trees and shrubs, such as hazel, holly and beech, is known by its sorediate crater-like warts that conceal the discs below; each sprinkled with a fine veil of powder and crystals. It tends to occur in wooded areas that have remained long undisturbed. It is scattered in suitable habitats in Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• The grey thallus is cracked like a layer of reptile skin and is darker than the warts which appear on the surface
• The crater-like warts are edged with white granules (soredia) and conceal the discs. Rubbing the soralia with a thumb will reveal them beneath. It has a passing resemblance to Phlyctis agelaea from which it is distinguished by the K+ red reaction.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Lepra multipuncta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.