LICHALP

Leptorhaphis atomaria (Ach.) Szatala

Syn.: Arthopyrenia atomaria (Ach.) Müll. Arg., Arthopyrenia punctiformis (Pers.) A. Massal. var. atomaria (Ach.) Anzi, Didymella atomaria (Ach.) Szatala, Leptorhaphis tremulae auct. non Körb, Lichen atomarius Ach., Microthelia adspersa Körb., Microthelia atomaria (Ach.) Körb. non auct.

Non- or doubtfully lichenised.

Substrate: bark

Altitudinal range: from the submediterranean/colline belt (potential vegetation: mixed deciduous forests dominated by Quercus and Carpinus) to the subalpine belt (potential vegetation: open, taiga-like forests dominated by Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra and Rhododendron)

Note: a species doubtfully associated with trentepohlioid algae, with an endosubstratic thallus forming smooth, whitish-grey patches, numerous circular ascomata (to c. 0.2 mm in diam.), the hymenial gel hemiamyloid (bluish in IKI at low concentrations), and 1-septate ascospores with some 3-septate ones intermingled (25-32 × 2-3.5 µm) with not markedly attenuated ends; usually on bark of Populus, but also recorded from Fraxinus; widespread in temperate Europe, but also recorded from North America.