A Cladonia And Another For ID Please.

[Lancashire Lad]

I'm trying to identify these two on behalf of an aquaintance (Copyright of the photos belongs with him, but I have permission to upload them to WAB).

No.1
Cladonia - Am I correct in thinking this is C.diversa??


No.2
To me, this looks very like the photo of Physcia tenella on British Lichens website, but nothing like the P.tenella photo in Dobson . (But then again, it also looks like P.leptalea in Dobson - but that one appears to be something of a rarity ).


Any help with ID's much appreciated as always

Regards
Mike.

[AlanS]

Hi Mike,

Just noticed I never replied to this.

1. Assuming the photographer was not high in the Cairngorms, then I think there is enough in the photo to confirm C. diversa.

2. Looks like the photo of Physcia tenella on my website too.
Because it is.
The problem with Dobson's pic is that it shows only the asexual reproductive stage (soralia at the ends of the lobes) and it does not show the sexual reproductive stage, the apothecia (discs). That's OK, except that he doesn't mention them in the description either, and in the key to Physcia he says "Rarely fertile" - which, with all due respect etc. etc. is complete and utter ... um, ... well, it's not true.

I can just make out soralia in your photograph, which P. leptalea does not have. So yes, your photo is P. tenella.

Yes, P. leptalea is rare but I fear Dobson-users will be keying out fertile P. tenella and P. adscendens as that species rather often.
[In most respects it is, of course, an excellent book and essential for anyone trying to identify lichens]

Alan

[Lancashire Lad]

As usual Alan, many thanks for your very detailed response.

I'm very satisfied that I actually managed to ID both species, and am pleased that I will now be able to tell the original finder/photographr exactly what they are.

Regards
Mike.

PS - Managed to find your (excellent) website, and have now added it to my favourites . You should definitely put a link in your signature