One of the two smallest Vezdaea species in the Czech Republic. It has flat hexagonal apothecia and simple spores. The asci are wrapped in a loose net of tightly adpressed branched paraphyses. The goniocysts are only finely spinose in contrast to the similar V. rheocarpa. The two species are ecologically similar and macroscopically indistinguishable; they form pale pinkish gelatinous apothecia surrounded by scattered yellow-green globules resembling algae.
V. retigera is known from anthropogenic localities including contaminated toxic stands but may also be found at naturally disturbed sites. It colonizes a variety of substrates, mainly bryophytes, plant debris, humus, other lichens or tree bark. It is best found when wet during early spring.
Literature: Poelt J. & Döbbeler P. (1975): Über moosparasitische Arten der Flechtengattung Micarea und Vezdaea. – Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik 96: 328–352. Palice Z. (1999): New and noteworthy records of lichens in the Czech Republic. – Preslia 71: 289–336.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lichinomycetes → Vezdaeales → Vezdaeaceae → Vezdaea
Red List (Liška & Palice 2010):DD – data deficient
Red List (Malíček 2023):DD – data deficient
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 43, confirmed 36. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).