Description: This is one of the ‘new wave’ of invading lichen species filling the vacuum left by those driven out by intolerable levels of air pollution. In Ireland, it is known only from County Down. It forms a scaly, olive-green crust on dust-impregnated, often nutrient-rich, sheltered bark. It is only when you examine it closely with a hand lens (x10) that you realise that the species is in fact composed of a microscopic mat of miniature scales (squamules). Discs (to 1mm diam.) are buff to pink (with dark patches) encircled by a paler rim.

Key Identification Features:

• Scaly crust, granular to the naked eye, olivaceous, on dusty tree bark low down on boles; also on sheltered dusty stonework
• Discs buff-pink or piebald; spores three- to seven-septate.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Bacidina neosquamulosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.