Athallia holocarpa sensu lato

Thallus greyish to yellow or orange but usually poorly developed or almost absent, often as rather amorphous material just around the apothecia, soredia absent; apothecia dispersed to somewhat crowded, of mixed sizes, orange-yellow to deeper orange, thalline exciple scarcely developed but 'proper' margin relatively thick and conspicuous when young, much less visible as the apothecia mature and become convex.

Caloplaca is one of a number of similar taxa which show a wide variation in morphology. Usually C. holocarpa has smaller and more orange-red apothecia but given the variation we have included all records of this species as Caloplaca holocarpa sensu lato  (ie "in the broadest sense").

On sandstone and other siliceous rocks, on walls, concrete and occasionally on wood.

All year round.

Widespread and generally common.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.