THALLUS: brownish to grayish-greenish, usually loosely-attached and strongly convex, squamules up to 1-2 mm wide
SOREDIA: powdery labriform soralia at or just under the free margins
APOTHECIA: rare, black, lecideine
CHEMISTRY: thallus conspicuously C+ and KC+ red (lecanoric acid)
Essentially worldwide.
Common Name: Common Clam Lichen
Brownish squamulose lichen typically growing in vast colonies on charred wood. Usualy found without apothecia, and with powdery soredia underneath and along margins. Squamules generally lift from the substrate on their lower side, making them look a little like shingles.
Typically on the base of scorched conifers or other charred wood, but also on any acidic bark, especially in dry conifer forests that experience frequent mild burns.
There are several brownish squamulose lichens, however few are C+ red.
H. anthracophila C-, PD+r H. castaneocinerea C-, PD- _H. sierrae C-, K+y H. friesii not sorediate H. oligospora not sorediateSeveral other squamulose genera might be mistaken for Hypocenomyce as well…
