LICHALP

Rhizocarpon amphibium (Fr.) Th. Fr.

Syn.: Lecidea amphibia Fr.

Lichenised.

Substrate: siliceous rocks

Altitudinal range: from the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies) 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 species somewhat resembling Rh. lavatum, but thallus brownish to greenish grey, apothecia often in circular arrangement and with thinner margins, ascospores smaller (mostly less than 40 µm long) and with fewer cells in optical view (usually 8-12, with only 1 longitudinal septum); on periodically inundated siliceous rocks e.g. along streams; widespread in Europe but much rarer than Rh. lavatum and mostly in areas with a suboceanic climate; from the Alps there are only a few isolated records.