LICHALP

Involucropyrenium romeanum (B. de Lesd.) Breuss

Syn.: Involucropyrenium squamulosum (M. Brand & van den Boom) Breuss, Verrucaria romeana B. de Lesd., Verrucaria squamulosa M. Brand & van den Boom

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks

Altitudinal distribution: montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies)

Note: a species recalling Verrucaria macrostoma, but thallus squamulose, perithecia at the edge or between squamules, with involucrellum reaching the base but basally open, and ascospores to c. 30 µm long; on calcareous rocks, including man-made substrates; rather common in Western Europe with a single record from the Eastern Alps, but perhaps overlooked or misidentified elsewhere.