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.
Distribution: N - Frl (Tretiach & Hafellner 2000), Ven, TAA (Matzer 1993, Hinteregger 1994, Caniglia & al. 2002, Nascimbene & Caniglia 2002c, Nascimbene 2005b, 2006c, 2008b, Nascimbene & al. 2022), Lomb (Valcuvia 2002, 2002b, Dalle Vedove & al. 2004), Piem (Morisi & Sereno 1995), VA (Borlandelli & al. 1996, Piervittori & Isocrono 1997, 1999), Emil (Tretiach & al. 2008, Fariselli & al. 2020), Lig (Brunialti & al. 1999). C - Tosc, Laz, Sar (Rizzi & al. 2011). S - Camp (Ricciardi & al. 2000), Pugl, Si (Grillo 1998, Grillo & Caniglia 2004).
Description: Thallus crustose, episubstratic, greyish-white to 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), 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. 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. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: cortex K-, C+ and KC+ red (reactions often weak), P-, UV+ faintly blue; medulla and soralia C+ bright carmine red. Chemistry: lecanoric acid (major) and variolaric acid.
Note: optimum on steeply inclined, lime-free, rather shaded surfaces of siliceous rocks in humid areas. For further details see Kosecka & Oset (2024).
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
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: rather rare
Submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Padanian area: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: very rare
Humid mediterranean belt: absent
Dry mediterranean belt: absent

pH of the substrata:

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Solar irradiation:

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Aridity:

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Eutrophication:

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Poleotolerance:

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Altitudinal distribution:

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Predictive model
Herbarium samples
Index Fungorum GBIF

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


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


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.