Flavoparmelia and small lichen/fungi Q

[JennyS]

Having been peering at Flavoparmelia species for another thread I remembered this photo - is it Flavoparmelia soredians or just a flatter-looking F.caperata?

On a roadside fence-post


Then there was this, about pin-sized, on a woodland rock.....

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Then there was this, about pin-sized, on a woodland rock.....

hi Jenny

this one is slightly reminiscent of Baeomyces rufus, but is very dark and the thallus looks odd . . . then again, one mustn't forget that there are also quite a considerable number of lichenicolous fungi which can attack, damage and even kill lichens and in doing so render their appearance atypical (at least four have been recorded on B. rufus)

just a thought

Chris

[poschiavanus]

First image is F. caperata, and I can't think of any good reasons to disagree with Chris on Baeomyces. All the Calicium sp. seem to be corticolous.

[JennyS]

Thanks for the Flavoparmelia correction - I went back to it today and realised F.soredians was probably wishful thinking

The other fits a Calicium thin thallus description, shame mine was on a rock, blowing that habitat-wise!
Having had Baeomyces rufus suggested for it I'm now wondering if I've gone adrift on my IDs for the two below.....

1. Baeomyces rufus?


2. Icmadophila ericetorum?


Or are they the same species at different stages of fruiting?

[poschiavanus]

I'm happy with 2. as Icmadophilia. Certainly looks like the photos I've got which were IDed by a proper lichenologist.

[gleditsa]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Thanks for the Flavoparmelia correction - I went back to it today and realised F.soredians was probably wishful thinking

The other fits a Calicium thin thallus description, shame mine was on a rock, blowing that habitat-wise!
Having had Baeomyces rufus suggested for it I'm now wondering if I've gone adrift on my IDs for the two below.....

1. Baeomyces rufus?


2. Icmadophila ericetorum?


Or are they the same species at different stages of fruiting?

these things are absolutely fascinating! i have not taken much notice of these in the past, but i can see me devoloping an interest in lichens soon
the pictures of Baeomyces rufus is a real eye opener, how big are the fungi shaped parts in the pics?, they must be very miniscule judging by the overall size in the picture,

[poschiavanus]

Beware, JennyS lives in one of the better lichenolgical places in Europe. The East Midlands does not fare as well: although there are good spots in Derbyshire and Charnwood Forest.

[gleditsa]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

Beware, JennyS lives in one of the better lichenolgical places in Europe. The East Midlands does not fare as well: although there are good spots in Derbyshire and Charnwood Forest.

i had gathered that JennysS seemed to be in a prime area for lichens , from the quantity(and quality) of her posts,
however , it might not be such a bad thing for me if there are not to many species around the east mids, i might stand more chance to id what few there are
there are probably more around than i will ever be able to id anyway, so you may be having a few more to id in the future

[poschiavanus]

Its not just that JennyS has the charismatic megalichens, but much of the East Midlands is still recovering from two centuries of industrial pollution. In many cases the lichens are there, but in frustratingly small patches. They may be readily IDed by the expert but I like nice biggish ones.

That being said knowing where to look helps. Towns are pretty poor, but country churchyards are good; old orchards, and some country estates can be worthwhile. Ash and rowan seem to be the trees which get colonised by a good range of species early on. I've seen nice lichens on Willows, Sycamore and Horse Chestnut as well. Elder gets covered with Xanthoria parietina and two Physcia species (tenella and adscendens) but not much else. Cladonia, Peltigera and Usnea species are around, but still feel to me like special finds.

[JennyS]

these things are absolutely fascinating! i have not taken much notice of these in the past, but i can see me devoloping an interest in lichens soon
the pictures of Baeomyces rufus is a real eye opener, how big are the fungi shaped parts in the pics?, they must be very miniscule judging by the overall size in the picture,

I'd never really looked at them closely until last November but they are such amazing shapes, colours and growth forms I'm completely hooked. Those fungi-shaped bits were about pinhead size or slightly smaller - I only noticed them because I was flat on the ground peering at the licheny splodge next to them! (Got some very funny looks from other walkers though, but with the freedom of granniedom I'm not that bothered anymore!)

it might not be such a bad thing for me if there are not to many species around the east mids, i might stand more chance to id what few there are

You're in with a much better chance than me of figuring out whats what!
As posch says I'm in a really good lichen area, but there are so many different ones I doubt I'll ever figure a fraction of them. I'm also finding it hard to remember the names of ones I'm recognising - common names stick in my head way better than Latin!