Description: Wherever water seeps over upland acid rocks it is worthwhile searching for this species, for this is its characteristic habitat. P. lectissima has a wrinkled, pale-brown or faint-orange-stained thallus which stands out clearly when dry. It is perhaps more common to see it in association with tributary streams especially, where they spill downhill splashing over fringing areas of bare rock before entering a river. Along such streams the colouration of this lichen can be traced like the scent of an animal. The tiny spherical discs (perithecia: 0.4-0.5mm diam.) rise like warts from the thallus, glowing reddish-brown. A squash of the perithecia under the microscope will reveal the spindle-shaped, three-septate spores. Throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Small, red-brown perithecia, scattered over a wrinkled thallus
• Siliceous rocks, wetted by seepage or overflow from waterfalls or tributary streams are good places to look for this species.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Porina lectissima at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.