Micarea botryoides (Nyl.) Coppins

A widespread microlichen, usually growing on acidic rocks and decaying bryophytes on them. It often passes also onto a tree bark (usually bases of conifers), exposed roots or wood. It is one of the most shade-tolerant species and occurs even in places, where the shade-tolerant Lepraria are unable to grow. The lichen is also tolerant to the intensive forest management and therefore can be found in shaded managed forests. It may locally be one of the dominant species in very shaded moist microhabitats. The species is common, for example, in north-Bohemian sandstone areas, and in all the Czech mountains. At lower elevations, it prefers afforested valleys.

Micarea botryoides is usually found without apothecia in the pycnidial stage. Epiphytic and many lignicolous forms of this species morphologically slightly differ from the typical saxicolous populations. According to our preliminary results, these represent a new undescribed taxon.

Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Pilocarpaceae → Micarea