Description: Very rare in Ireland, this rather attractive ‘miniature’ overgrows copper-rich rocks where it forms streaky pale green, or whitish grey, C+ red, crusts. The pale pink discs fade to brown over time, but this is particularly useful in confirming identification. The simple to one-septate, tear-drop shaped spores are a little over 7µm in length. Derelict mine buildings and copper lightning conductors are its principal habitats.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus crustose-leprose, pale green-white to white, C+ red with pink discs
• Spores simple, like tear-drops; copper contaminated rock.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Psilolechia leprosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.