Micarea inopinula

A rare Micarea characterised by the distinctive short-stalked, ‘Calicium-like’ apothecia, along with the thallus (in squash preparations) C+ red, K–, Pd– (gyrophoric acid), one senate spores and an internal apothecia pigmentation is similar to M. melaena. The latter species, however, has sessile apothecia, more richly branched paraphyses and mainly 3-septate spores. The montane M. crassipes differs in having apothecia that are distinctly marginate when young, narrower ascospores and a C– thallus.

Very rare on bryophytes on rocks and tree roots, in oceanic woodland in the western Scottish Highlands.