LICHALP

Aspicilia reagens (Zahlbr.) Cl. Roux & M. Bertrand

Syn.: Lecanora calcarea f. reagens Zahlbr., Aspicilia calcarea (L.) Bagl. var. reagens (Zahlbr.) Szatala

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks

Altitudinal distribution: submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus)

Note: this taxon was often regarded just a chemical strain of A. calcarea with abundant norstictic acid. It is however more closely related to A. serenensis than to A. calcarea because of the cortex not filled by crystals, the rounded apothecia with a well-developed thalline margin, the amphithecium containing the subdepressa-brown pigment, and the size of conidia. It differs from A. serenensis in the chemistry (norstictic and stictic acids), in several morphological traits, and in the altitudinal distribution. To be looked for further in the Alps.