Fluffy Green Lichen for ID

[Yashca]

I found this growing on a branch yesterday, i think it mught be a Ramalina species, what do you think? How could I narrow it down to the exact species? It's not growing far from my house.

[Chris Yeates]

hi

if it isn't far for you to go and check, then have a careful look at it (preferably with a x10 hand-lens);
I think you are correct with Ramalina; if it has soredia (powdery areas with loose collections of fungal hyphae and algae) which are a way for the lichen to spread, then it I think it will be R. farinacea - the name 'farinacea' means 'floury' which is quite descriptive; other species of Ramalina lack these soredia and are fertile with shallow cup like fruit-bodies

hope that helps

Chris