Varicellaria lactea (L.) I. Schmitt & Lumbsch
in Schmitt & al., MycoKeys, 4: 31, 2012. Basionym: Lichen lacteus L. - Mantissa Pl., 1: 132, 1767.
Synonyms: Lecanora pallescens var. variolosa sensu Anzi non Jatta; Lecanora rimosa var. sorediifera (Schaer.) Rabenh.; Ochrolechia lactea (L.) Matzer & Hafellner; Pertusaria lactea (L.) Arnold; Pertusaria lactea f. cinerascens Nyl.; Pertusaria lactea var. confluens Erichsen; Variolaria lactea (L.) Pers.
Description: Thallus crustose, episubstratic, white, smooth to minutely warted in central parts, often radially folded, continuous to rimose, often delimited by a white, somehow glossy, more or less distinctly zoned prothallus, forming large, up to 20(-35) cm wide patches. Soralia at first orbicular, later often confluent, 0.5-1.5(-3) mm wide, convex when young, becoming more flattened with age, white (paler than thallus), usually constricted at base, when young often surrounded by a thin thalline rim; initially with club-shaped to globose, up to 0.4(-1) mm tall and 0.3(-0.9) mm wide outgrowths resembling isidia, which break up into 110-180 μm wide soredia that are often aggregated into rounded, up to 450 μm wide consoredia. Apothecia very rare, immersed in 0.4-0.8 mm wide, soralia-like thalline warts, 1-2 per wart, with a pale brown, but heavily white-pruinose disc and a more or less densely sorediate thalline margin. Epithecium brownish; hymenium colourless, not amyloid. Asci 1-spored, broadly cylindrical, the apex with a broad ocular chamber, the outer sheath K/I+ blue, otherwise K/I-, Pertusaria-type. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid, 180-240 x 60-100 µm, the wall not striate, 8-10(-30) µm thick. Pycnidia rare. Conidia simple, cylindrical, straight, 4.5 x c. 0.5 µm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: cortex K-, C+ and KC+ carmine red (reaction often weak), P-, UV+ faintly blue; medulla and soralia C+ bright carmine red. Chemistry: lecanoric acid (major) and variolaric acid.
Growth form: Crustose
Substrata: rocks
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: extremely rare
Montane belt: rather rare
Dry submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Humid submediterranean belt: very rare
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
1 2 3 4 5
Solar irradiation:
1 2 3 4 5
Aridity:
1 2 3 4 5
Eutrophication:
1 2 3 4 5
Poleotolerance:
0 1 2 3
Altitudinal distribution:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
Loading data...
Occurrence data
Predictive map
Current prediction (1981-2010)
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025
Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php
P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (25156)
2001/12/10
Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV); Owner: Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV)
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
1: lecanoric acid, 2: variolaric acid, conf. J.A.Elix
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1948], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Südschwarzwald, Südseite des Belchen an Granitfelsen, ca. 1300 m, TK 8112. Leg. Schumm 10.09.1971, det. V. Wirth.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1948], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Südschwarzwald, Südseite des Belchen an Granitfelsen, ca. 1300 m, TK 8112. Leg. Schumm 10.09.1971, det. V. Wirth.
Leif Stridvall - Source http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/; Owner: Courtesy: Anita Stridvall
Leif Stridvall - Source http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/; Owner: Courtesy: Anita Stridvall
Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_V/Varicellaria_lactea.htm
France, session AFL 2013 dans le Forez
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Ulrich Kirschbaum CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: https://www.thm.de/lse/ulrich-kirschbaum/flechtenbilder
Central Europe; Germany; Baden-Württemberg: Black Forest.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[19824], Österreich, Land Salzburg, Hohe Tauern, Kapruner Tal,
Schmiedingerkees oberhalb der Krefelder Hütte, an Kalkschiefer, 2700
m. Leg. et det. K. Kalb, 6.-7.9.1973. - Thallus K+ gelb>rot, C+ rot,
KC+ rot, Pö.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[19824], Österreich, Land Salzburg, Hohe Tauern, Kapruner Tal,
Schmiedingerkees oberhalb der Krefelder Hütte, an Kalkschiefer, 2700
m. Leg. et det. K. Kalb, 6.-7.9.1973. - Thallus K+ gelb>rot, C+ rot,
KC+ rot, Pö.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[20883], Austria, Steiermark, Eastern Alps, Koralpe. 15.2 km W of the
centre of Deutschlandsberg, 400 m, S of the pass Weinebene, Weinhofen,
46°50'10'' N, 15°01'00'' E, 1720 m, low outcrops and boulders of a
brittle, siliceous schist (at the current timber line), on inclined rock
faces. Leg. et. det. J. Hafellner, 15.09.2007 (70356). EX W. OBERMAYER:
LICHENOTHECA GRAECENSIS, NR. 500. Distributed as Varicellaroa
lactea (L.) I. Schmitt & Lumbsch.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[20883], Austria, Steiermark, Eastern Alps, Koralpe. 15.2 km W of the
centre of Deutschlandsberg, 400 m, S of the pass Weinebene, Weinhofen,
46°50'10'' N, 15°01'00'' E, 1720 m, low outcrops and boulders of a
brittle, siliceous schist (at the current timber line), on inclined rock
faces. Leg. et. det. J. Hafellner, 15.09.2007 (70356). EX W. OBERMAYER:
LICHENOTHECA GRAECENSIS, NR. 500. Distributed as Varicellaroa
lactea (L.) I. Schmitt & Lumbsch.
Source: Schmitt I, Otte J, Parnmen S, Sadowska-Deś A, Luecking R, Lumbsch T (2012) A new circumscription of the genus Varicellaria (Pertusariales, Ascomycota). MycoKeys 4: 23-36. - CC BY-4.0
Spain, Schmitt 5.6.2003 (FR)
Scale bar: 1mm. Images were taken with an Olympus SC30 camera under an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope.
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Armesberg
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Armesberg
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Rauer Kulm
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Rauer Kulm
Erichsen C.F.E. 1936. Pertusariaceae. - In: Dr. L. Rabenhorsts Kryptogamenflora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Bd. IX, Abt. 5, T. 1. Akad. Verlagsges., Leipzig, pp. 321-512, 513-728. - Public Domain
Growth form: Crustose
Substrata: rocks
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: extremely rare
Montane belt: rather rare
Dry submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Humid submediterranean belt: very rare
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Solar irradiation:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Aridity:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Eutrophication:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Poleotolerance:
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Altitudinal distribution:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
Loading data...
Occurrence data
Predictive map
Current prediction (1981-2010)Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025
Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php
P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (25156)
2001/12/10
Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV); Owner: Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV)
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1335], Österreich, Steiermark, Niedere Tauern, Donnersbacher Alpen, Morsbachhütte, auf dem Kamm bei der Morsbachspitze, ca. 1900 m. Leg. et det. Erich Putzler, 19.08.1954.
1: lecanoric acid, 2: variolaric acid, conf. J.A.Elix
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1948], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Südschwarzwald, Südseite des Belchen an Granitfelsen, ca. 1300 m, TK 8112. Leg. Schumm 10.09.1971, det. V. Wirth.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[1948], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Südschwarzwald, Südseite des Belchen an Granitfelsen, ca. 1300 m, TK 8112. Leg. Schumm 10.09.1971, det. V. Wirth.
Leif Stridvall - Source http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/; Owner: Courtesy: Anita Stridvall
Leif Stridvall - Source http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/; Owner: Courtesy: Anita Stridvall
Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_V/Varicellaria_lactea.htm
France, session AFL 2013 dans le Forez
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Pyrenees, Azet
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Hôpital-Camfrout
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=278&lang=en
France, Le Loc'h
Ulrich Kirschbaum CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: https://www.thm.de/lse/ulrich-kirschbaum/flechtenbilder
Central Europe; Germany; Baden-Württemberg: Black Forest.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[19824], Österreich, Land Salzburg, Hohe Tauern, Kapruner Tal, Schmiedingerkees oberhalb der Krefelder Hütte, an Kalkschiefer, 2700 m. Leg. et det. K. Kalb, 6.-7.9.1973. - Thallus K+ gelb>rot, C+ rot, KC+ rot, Pö.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[19824], Österreich, Land Salzburg, Hohe Tauern, Kapruner Tal, Schmiedingerkees oberhalb der Krefelder Hütte, an Kalkschiefer, 2700 m. Leg. et det. K. Kalb, 6.-7.9.1973. - Thallus K+ gelb>rot, C+ rot, KC+ rot, Pö.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[20883], Austria, Steiermark, Eastern Alps, Koralpe. 15.2 km W of the centre of Deutschlandsberg, 400 m, S of the pass Weinebene, Weinhofen, 46°50'10'' N, 15°01'00'' E, 1720 m, low outcrops and boulders of a brittle, siliceous schist (at the current timber line), on inclined rock faces. Leg. et. det. J. Hafellner, 15.09.2007 (70356). EX W. OBERMAYER: LICHENOTHECA GRAECENSIS, NR. 500. Distributed as Varicellaroa lactea (L.) I. Schmitt & Lumbsch.
Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[20883], Austria, Steiermark, Eastern Alps, Koralpe. 15.2 km W of the centre of Deutschlandsberg, 400 m, S of the pass Weinebene, Weinhofen, 46°50'10'' N, 15°01'00'' E, 1720 m, low outcrops and boulders of a brittle, siliceous schist (at the current timber line), on inclined rock faces. Leg. et. det. J. Hafellner, 15.09.2007 (70356). EX W. OBERMAYER: LICHENOTHECA GRAECENSIS, NR. 500. Distributed as Varicellaroa lactea (L.) I. Schmitt & Lumbsch.
Source: Schmitt I, Otte J, Parnmen S, Sadowska-Deś A, Luecking R, Lumbsch T (2012) A new circumscription of the genus Varicellaria (Pertusariales, Ascomycota). MycoKeys 4: 23-36. - CC BY-4.0
Spain, Schmitt 5.6.2003 (FR)
Scale bar: 1mm. Images were taken with an Olympus SC30 camera under an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope.
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Armesberg
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Armesberg
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Rauer Kulm
Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Germany, Bavaria, Rauer Kulm
