LICHALP

Trapelia coarctata (Sm.) M. Choisy

Syn.: Biatora arridens (Nyl.) Walt. Watson, Biatora coarctata (Sm.) Th. Fr., Biatora coarctata (Sm.) Th. Fr. var. elachista (Ach.) Th. Fr., ?Biatora comensis Anzi, Lecanactis arridens Nyl., Lecanora coarctata (Sm.) Ach., Lecanora coarctata (Sm.) Ach. var. elachista (Ach.) Schaer., Lecidea arridens Nyl., Lecidea coarctata (Sm.) Nyl., Lecidea coarctata (Sm.) Nyl. var. elachista (Ach.) Th. Fr., Lichen coarctatus Sm., Zeora coarctata (Sm.) Flot.

Lichenised.

Substrate: siliceous rocks,

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) to the alpine belt (potential vegetation: treeless Alpine grasslands and tundras, to the lower limit of perennial snow and the equilibrium line of glaciers)

Note: a holarctic early coloniser of siliceous pebbles near the soil surface, sometimes also found on bare clayey soil, with a wide altitudinal and altitudinal range; it is most frequent in upland areas, becoming rare in the eu-Mediterranean belt. The species is genetically heterogeneous; widespread throughout the Alps.