Ramalina portuensis and subfarinacea query

[JennyS]

These were both above HWM on the sheltered side of a coastal rock, and they'll probably turn out to be Ramalina siliquosa yet again .......

1. Ramalina portuensis?
Tested K+ yellow going orange-red but I can't find any illustrations to compare with. Dobson's description is brief (hollow, swollen and contorted branches) and my copy of the new lichen book hasn't arrived yet..... There is a pre-2000 record for the adjoining peninsula.




2. Ramalina subfarinacea?
On the same rock, post-2000 records for both adjoining peninsula's. Growing in clumps with multiple rather than a single holdfasts.



Fingers crossed but I'm fully expecting them to be weird R. siliquosa again......

[AlanS]

Originally Posted by JennyS

These were both above HWM on the sheltered side of a coastal rock, and they'll probably turn out to be Ramalina siliquosa yet again .......

Such is my own opinion! Sorry, Jenny.

In neither case do your photographs show soredia, and the presence and location of soredia is so very important in verifying a number of Ramalina species, including the identities you suggest.

I do have my own copy of the new handbook now (took a while!) and the Ramalina account is very useful. The description of the K+ chemotype of R. siliquosa, with its convex and densely tuberculate lobes, matches your photograph rather well I think. The lobes should not really be hollow, but I note that the key does state "more or less solid" - indicating the possibility for some variation, and this is clearly happens in these distorted mophs of siliquosa.

The full description of R. portuensis shows that it is not a possibility for your photograph, though it is certainly something to look for on old trees (not coastal rocks) in SW Ireland.

You should also look out for R. polymorpha on nutrient-enriched coastal rocks in SW Ireland. Apparently not recorded, but it is in a few localities on the British west coast and it would be strange if it is really absent from SW Ireland. Very like a much darker green R. siliquosa, with broad, strap-shaped lobes with minute, longitudinal ridges, apothecia rare. I'll probably put photographs of it (from Skomer) up on my site this month.

Alan

[JennyS]

Thanks Alan - I had a feeling they might well be.
Though I'll keep hoping for odd-looking ones that don't turn out to be R. siliquosa!