Rhizoplaca occulta S. Leavitt, F. Fernández-Mendoza, Lumbsch, Sohrabi & L. St. Clair

Consists of specimens recovered within ‘clade IVa’ in Leavitt et al. (2011a), which is supported as a lineage distinct from all other populations according to coalescent-based genetic analysis of multiple genetic loci. This species is morphologically variable. While some individuals are morphologically similar to Rhizoplaca melanophthalma sensu stricto, vagrant forms, including Rhizoplaca cerebriformis ined. and Rhizoplaca subidahoensis ined. which have been suggested to be distinct species based on morphology (Arup and Grube 2000; figs 7 & 9), also belong within this species. The mean genetic distance among ITS haplotypes was estimated to be 0.003 ± 0.001. Chemistry – Usnic (major), constipatic (minor), dehydroconstipatic (minor), 2’-O-demethylpsoromic (minor), and 2’-O-demethylsubpsoromic (minor or trace) acids; usually with psoromic acid (major); and occasionally with dehydroprotocetraric acid (minor).

Rhizoplaca occulta is a species of crustose lichen in the family Lecanoraceae.