Diploschistes caesioplumbeus

Diploschistes caesioplumbeus – Characteristic dark leaden grey , cracked areolate, shiny thallus with tiny fruiting bodies completely immersed in the thallus (2-3 to each areole), and look like holes. This species is a parasite on Ochrolechia parella, and Tephromela atra, etc. A spore of D.c. lands on the host thallus and grows, capturing its algae and finally killing the host and replacing it . Specimens with both species are often found. K-, C+red. Frequent on well lit acid rocks in supralittoral. S.w. Britain .