Opegrapha gyrocarpa Roccellaceae
Gyrographa gyrocarpa (Opegrapha gyrocarpa)

Growth type crustose
Soralia K-, C+ red, KC+ red, P-, UV+ glaucous or pale yellow

Found on shaded neutral or siliceous rocks, often on old dry-stone walls and on rocks in old woodland. Sometimes host to Sphinctrina turbinata

Thin or finely cracked pale brown to reddish-brown thallus, sometimes with pinkish patches. Dark-brown to black prothallus. Yellowish soralia scattered over surface giving flecked appearance. Occasional scattered knot-like or gyrose apothecia, spores 3-septate 17-25 x 4-6 µm. Thallus can form extensive mosaics. Microscope photograph below.

Similar: Belonia nidarosiensis. On limestone, mortar and cement. C-


Opegrapha gyrocarpa

Opegrapha gyrocarpa

Microscope photograph
Opegrapha gyrocarpa, spores
Opegrapha gyrocarpa
Lychett Matravers and Colehill, Dorset. January 2014, 2017

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