Aspicilia confusa is a pale gray (sometimes brownish) crustose areolate lichen that grows mostly on rock in southern and central California mountains, from 250mto3170mm (820feetto10,400feetm).[1] [2] Areoles may be contiguous or dispersed.[1] It has a dark, fringed prothallus.[1] Each areole commonly has 1–4 round to angular aspicilioid apothecia that are 0.1–1.5 mm in diameter, sunken into it.[2] Each apothecia has a usually concave, black disc.[1] [2] Lichen spot tests are all negative.[1] [2] It grows on rock in chaparral or forests in central and southern California, including the Sierra Nevadas, but not in the southeastern deserts of California.[1]