LICHALP

Ochrolechia balcanica Verseghy

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: this conspicuous lichen probably belongs, together with such species as Parmelia submontana and Physconia venusta, to an ancient pre-glacial Mediterranean-montane element; it is common and often abundant in the Mediterranean mountains, with a few records from the Western Alps.