Description: This crustose lichen is drawn to iron-rich siliceous rocks and old mineral workings. It is distinguished by its uniformly rust-red and therefore, highly visible, scaly, thallus which occurs in small patches between other lichens. All reactions are negative. The species is local in north-west and south-east Ireland. Rhizocarpon oederi (described elsewhere) is similar but it has wine gum-like discs with black spirals of surface ornamentation.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus rust-red, on iron-rich rock
• Only on siliceous rocks; discs lacking raised, surface ridges.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Acarospora sinopica at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Acarospora sinopica at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.