LICHALP

Halecania viridescens Coppins & P. James

Lichenised.

Substrate: bark

Altitudinal range: from the submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus) to the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies)

Note: a species recalling Rinodina efflorescens in appearance, but the pale green to greenish-brown areoles are very fragile, dissolving into pale vivid-green soralia with farinose soredia (Pd+ red), apothecia occasionally present, with relatively thin ascospores; on slightly eutrophic bark of deciduous trees (mainly Salix) often near rivers and lakes; most frequent in Western Europe, with a few records from the Eastern Alps, but perhaps not always recognised elsewhere.