This species practically cannot be mistaken for any other. It is one of the largest saxicolous lichens that can be found in the Czech Republic. The foliose thallus grows up to 25 cm in diameter. Numerous big pustules and black isidia are characteristic identification marks. Umbilicaria pustulata grows on sun-exposed acidic siliceous rocks, often on exposed vertical surfaces where it even may become a dominant species. It occurs sparsely at any elevation in the country. In Europe, the lichen is rather common.
This lichen was until recently placed in the genus Lasallia, but according to a study by Davydov et al. (2017), the genus Lasallia is a monophyletic lineage within the genus Umbilicaria.
Literature: Lisická E. (1980): Flechtenfamilie Umbilicariaceae Fée in der Tschechoslowakei. – Biologické Práce SAV 26/4: 1–152. Davydov E. A., Peršoh D. & Rambold G. (2017): Umbilicariaceae (lichenized Ascomycota) – trait evolution and a new generic concept. – Taxon 66: 1282–1303.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Umbilicariales → Umbilicariaceae → Umbilicaria
most frequented synonyms:Lasallia pustulataRed List (Liška & Palice 2010):NT – near threatened
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 229, confirmed 163. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).