Lobothallia alphoplaca, the variable sunken disk lichen, is a creamy gray to brown,[2]: 307  placodioid areolate lichen that grows on rock in on rock and sometimes moss.

[3] It is found in Europe, central Asia, and North America, where it grows in the southwestern deserts to central California.

[3] The center has numerous crowded and deformed apothecia with rims of thallus-like tissue (lecanorine).

[3] With dark reddish or grayish brown to black discs.

[3] Lichen spot tests on the thallus and apothecia are C−, and KC−, with tests on the cortex K+ red, P+ orange, or K−, P− and on the medulla K+ red, and P+ orange.