LICHALP

Caloplaca oasis (A. Massal.) Szatala f. lithophila auct.

Syn.: Caloplaca holocarpa auct. ital. p.p., Caloplaca lithophila auct. non H. Magn., Caloplaca luteoalba (Ach.) Th. Fr. var. saxicola (Hepp) H. Olivier

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks

Altitudinal range: from the submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus) to the alpine belt (potential vegetation: treeless Alpine grasslands and tundras, to the lower limit of perennial snow and the equilibrium line of glaciers)

Note: this lichen, which is quite common on limestone and mortar, has been much misunderstood. In our opinion, it differs from C. oasis, because of the very different ecology and life-cycle (it is not parasitic on Bagliettoa-species).