is this classed as fungi please

[BradsDad]

hello
i was out walking this morning and came across this tree with an orange colour on the bark and was wondering is this classed as fungi.
thanks
rob

here is a photograph of the tree
thanks

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by BradsDad

hello
i was out walking this morning and came across this tree with an orange colour on the bark and was wondering is this classed as fungi.
thanks
rob

here is a photograph of the tree
thanks

Hi Rob,

No, not a fungus or a lichen but the green alga Trentepohlia which is very common in Britain.

It is a green algae even though coloured bright orange (due to the presence of vast amounts of carotenoid pigments !)..

Some of this genus do form associations with fungi to form lichens but not this one - which species it is, is another matter (needs microscopy)

Nick

[BradsDad]

Thanks for that nick much apreciated
rob