LICHALP

Rostania occultata (Bagl.) Otálora, P.M. Jørg. & Wedin

Syn.: Collema coccophylloides Hepp ex Müll. Arg., Collema occultatum Bagl., Collema quadratum Zwackh, Leptogium occultatum (Bagl.) Zahlbr., Leptogium quadratum (Zwackh) Nyl., Rostania quadrata (Zwackh) Trevis.

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 temperate lichen found on smooth, base-rich, but not very eutrophicated bark of more less isolated broad-leaved trees (Acer, Fraxinus, Juglans, Populus) in rather humid sites, especially on basal parts of old trunks; easy to overlook and widespread, but certainly not common in the Alps.