LICHALP

Caloplaca chalybaea (Fr.) Müll. Arg.

Syn.: Caloplaca alpestris sensu Ozenda & Clauzade, Caloplaca olivacea (A. Massal.) Jatta, Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Th. Fr. f. chalybaea (Fr.) Clauzade & Cl. Roux, Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Th. Fr. f. ochracea (Körb.) Müll. Arg., Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Th. Fr. subsp. ocellulata (Ach.) Boistel, Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Th. Fr. var. ocellulata (Ach.) Boistel, Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Th. Fr. var. ocellulata (Ach.) Boistel f. chalybaea (Fr.) Clauzade & Cl. Roux, Parmelia chalybaea Fr., Placodium chalybaeum (Fr.) Hepp, Pyrenodesmia chalybaea (Fr.) A. Massal., Pyrenodesmia olivacea A. Massal.

Lichenised.

Substrate: calciferous 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 mild-temperate species known from Europe and adjoining Africa and Asia, found on hard calciferous rocks (mostly on compact limestone) and dolomite, often, but not exclusively, on steeply inclined faces; widespread throughout the Alps.