This taxon is currently included in the genus Rufoplaca, which is characterized by narrow ascospores with a thin septum. Caloplaca arenaria is very similar to C. subpallida in its broad circumscription and differs in strongly reduced, almost inconspicuous thallus. It occurs on base-enriched, sunlit siliceous rocks and stone and it is missing on limestones.
The taxonomy of the genus Rufoplaca has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, and therefore it is not clear whether the findings from the Czech Republic correspond to one or more species. Furthermore, the usage of the name C. arenaria has been probably incorrect. The C. arenaria type seems to belong to the species C. albolutescens (Vondrák & Vitikainen 2008), a completely different lichen than the one for which the name has been used.
Literature: Vondrák J. & Vitikainen O. (2008): Typification of names of selected taxa described by Acharius and now placed in Caloplaca. – Taxon 57: 975–979.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Teloschistales → Teloschistaceae → Caloplaca
most frequented synonyms:Rufoplaca arenariaRed List (Liška & Palice 2010):NT – near threatened
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 62, confirmed 48. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).