Hi Willowjay,
In the photograph in your first post, I think Poschiavanus is right that the lichen on the side of the branch facing you is
Parmelia sulcata. However the clump on the upperside of the branch, with larger, smoothly grey lobes standing up a little from the branch and showing the dark undersides is, I feel pretty sure,
Parmotrema perlatum.
Identification of these grey, foliose lichens from photographs is always a bit risky, as close examination of the lichen is often necessary and your photograph is indeed a little distant. Even so, the overall look of the lichen colony, as well as such critical features as can be made out, make me confident of my identification.
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Moving on to your second set of photographs:
1. The main, branched, hanging lichen in the foreground is
Evernia prunastri. As its latin name suggests, it is common on
Prunus species, such as blackthorn, though it is not fussy about host. Behind it are thinner pendant branches of what appears to be
Ramalina farinacea, while the grey foliose one is apparently
Hypogymnia physodes. These three species very commonly grow together on bark that is not too nutrient-rich.
2. As Chris says the fungus is a
Phellinus - a taxonomically difficult genus that gives difficulties in identification. However, a hoof-like
Phellinus on blackthorn is almost certain to be
P. pomaceus, and your photograph looks exactly right.
3. The branched lichen is
Evernia prunastri again. The grey foliose lichen is a
Parmelia and this is where I would like to examine the lichen surface with a good hand-lens. On balance, I would say it is
Parmelia saxatilis, which is better known on rocks but also common on somewhat acid-barked trees such as oak. However, without close examination, I cannot rule out
P. sulcata, or a mixture of the two. The much smaller thalli of
Physcia tenella can also be seen on the branch.
4. Yes, old and dry fruitbodies of one of the
Stereum group. Generally the commonest that looks like this when old is
Stereum rugosum, but another possibility, especially if this is blackthorn again, is
Chondrostereum purpureum, which has violet colours when fresh. Someone who sees the latter more regularly than I do may be able to tell at a glance. Whichever it is, it will be more recognisable and more photogenic in the autumn.
5.
Trentepohlia indeed. I have a page on the genus at
Trentepohlia (images of British biodiversity)
though it needs updating and I have better photographs to add sometime. The one that is now increasingly (?) common as large sheets of orange on trees needs more investigation I think.
Good luck with your further lichen photography. A frustrating hobby at times!
Alan
Linear Mode
