Lobothallia

Lobothallia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Megasporaceae. Dark brown to black apothecia may be sunken into the surface of the thallus, as indicated in the common name puffed sunken-disk lichen. Originally described as a subgenus of Aspicilia in 1984, Lobothallia was elevated to full genus status in 1991 based on distinctive features including peripheral and small, thin-walled ascospores. The genus was established to clarify a group of rock-dwelling lichens that had previously been classified across several different genera.

The genus is found across multiple continents including Eurasia, North America, and Australia, with the greatest diversity occurring in the semi-arid mountains of Central Asia. These lichens typically grow on exposed rock faces, from low-elevation steppes to high mountain areas above 2,600 meters, and are well-adapted to dry conditions. As of 2026, the genus includes 38 recognized species, with several new species recently discovered in Pakistan and China.