LICHALP

Caloplaca erodens Tretiach, Pinna & Grube

Syn.: Pyrenodesmia erodens (Tretiach, Pinna & Grube) Søchting, Arup & Frödén

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous rocks

Altitudinal range: from the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies) to the subalpine belt (potential vegetation: open, taiga-like forests dominated by Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra and Rhododendron)

Note: a recently-described, usually sterile species, destructive to its substrate resulting in concave depressions with whitish marginal rims; on sunny rock walls and boulders of limestone, also on rock heads visited by birds; widespread in the Alps, but often overlooked.