Aspicilia laevata (Ach.) Arnold

This species grows on siliceous rocks of shady and humid habitats, such as grounded scree, partially shaded rocks and stones in the forest or surrounding watercourses. In the latter type of habitat, it inhabits only sporadically flooded or not flooded places. Its distribution has a boreo-montane character. In Europe, it is a widespread species, although it is abundant only locally. The situation in the Czech Republic is probably analogous. Recent records come mainly from South Bohemia. The identity of the older findings (see the Vězda & Liška 1999) is unclear due to easy confusion with other similar species, such as A. verrucigera, which, however, should occur in more exposed habitats. In 1939, the taxon A. obscura (H. Magn.) T. Müll was described as a new to science from the sandstones near Úpice in the Krkonoše foothills. Currently, it is considered synonymous with A. laevata.

Literature: Magnusson A. H. (1939): Studies in species of Lecanora, mainly the Aspicilia gibbosa group. – Kungl. Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar, ser. III 17, 5: 1–182.

Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Pertusariales → Megasporaceae → Aspicilia