Description: This white, crustose lichen has pale brown sunken discs (0.2-1.0mm diam.) which turn red-brown when wet. Thallus is K+ yellow-red, Pd+ yellow-orange. It is usually restricted to the highest peaks where snow lies for long periods. [The Irish record of Bellemerea alpina is thought to be dubious].

Key Identification Features:

• White, K+ yellow-red thallus with brown sunken discs
• Associated with montane snow beds.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Bellemerea alpina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.