Lepraria

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Lepraria is a genus of leprose crustose lichens that grows on its substrate like patches of granular, caked up, mealy dust grains.^[2][3] Members of the genus are commonly called dust lichens.^{[3]: 305 [4][5]} The main vegetative body (thallus) is made of patches of soredia (little balls of algae wrapped in fungus).^[3] There are no known mechanisms for sexual reproduction, yet members of the genus continue to speciate.^[2][3] Some species can form marginal lobes and appear squamulose.^[3]

Lepraria was circumscribed in 1803 by Swedish lichenologist Erik Acharius.^[6] Jack Laundon assigned Lepraria incana as the type species of the genus in 1992.^[7] It is in the family Stereocaulaceae.^[8]

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