Tephromela atra

Tephromela atra is a crustose lichen characterized by striking white margins around its thallus and distinctive black fruiting discs (apothecia). The contrast between the pale thallus edge and the dark apothecia makes it one of the more visually distinctive crustose lichens on rock surfaces.

The species was formally reclassified into the genus Tephromela by Austrian botanist Josef Hafellner in the 1980s. Hafellner's taxonomic revision refined the placement that had earlier assigned the species to other genera within the lichen classification system.

T. atra is a crustose lichen that typically grows on rock surfaces, forming a tightly bound thallus that cannot be separated from the substrate without damaging it. The white margins and black apothecia create a recognizable pattern on exposed stone in suitable habitats.

T. atra has a wide distribution and can be found on exposed rocks across various climatic regions. Its crustose growth form allows it to colonize stable rock surfaces where it can persist for long periods, slowly expanding its white-margined thallus over time.