LICHALP

Caloplaca areolata (Zahlbr.) Clauzade

Syn.: Caloplaca cerina (Hedw.) Th. Fr. var. areolata Zahlbr., Caloplaca spalatensis auct. non Zahlbr.

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) to the submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus)

Note: a mild-temperate, characteristic, but much misunderstood species found on the top of calcareous birds' perching boulders, mostly at low altitudes, with a few records from the Western Alps.