LICHALP

Tephromela atra (Huds.) Hafellner var. torulosa (Flot.) Hafellner

Syn.: Lecanora atra (Huds.) Ach. var. corticola (Hepp) Egeling, Lecanora atra (Huds.) Ach. var. torulosa Flot., Tephromela atra (Huds.) Hafellner var. corticola (Hepp) Hafellner & Hierzer (lapsus “Jerzer”) nom. inval.

Lichenised. Poorly known taxon.

Substrate: bark

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) 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 the bark of deciduous and evergreen broad-leaved trees. This taxon deserves further study: corticolous forms of typical T. atra are not rare, but the most common morph differs in several respects from epiphytic samples of T. atra s.str., and there is molecular evidence that two taxa are involved; probably more widespread in the Alps, since not always distinguished from the typical variety.