Fuscopannaria nebulosa (Hoffm.) E. Tripp & Lendemer = Moelleropsis nebulosa (Hoffm.) Gyeln.
Moelleropsis nebulosa (Hoffm.) Gyeln.
Pannaria nebulosa (Hoffm.) Nyl.
Thallus more or less thick, cracked, coarsely granular, granules to 0.03-0.1 mm diam., rounded or more or less elongate, usually crowded, grey-bluish to blackish, grey-bronze. Apothecia sessile, to 1 mm diam., inserted between granules, disc flat to convex, orange, brown-red, exciple granular in "pearl necklace", grey. Ascii 8-spored, 60-80 x 15-25 µm according to our measures. Ascospores simple, ellipsoid, with a single oil droplet, 15-20 x 6-10 µm according to literature, 14-20 x 5-7 (9) µm according to our measures. Photobiont: Nostoc with clustered cells. Chemical spot tests negative. Species with maritime affinities (but present elsewhere), which can be found on more or less disturbed mossy sandy soils throughout the aerohaline zone and in particular on the soil of the open moors of the very exposed capes and heads of Brittany. When dry, this species goes unnoticed on grounds and is distinctly visible after raining.
N.B. Not to be confused with Protopannaria pezizoides that is squamulose with larger and granulose ascospores, and with Vahliella atlantica which is similar to the naked eyes, coastal, usually darker grey without blue tinge, with structures suggesting coralloid isidia, brown apothecia (and not orange) and ascospores containing several oil droplets.