lichen please, please!

diggleken · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2011, 08:27 PM

Hi,
this has me tearing my hair out (what little there is left), so grateful for any help or steer.

On moorland rocks near freshwater last week.
Thanks a lot
Ken

Dorts · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2011, 09:44 PM

Ken, I can quite see the reason for your frustration with this one, it doesn't want to fit anything.
The nearest I can get is Hypogymnia physodes after initially thinking it may be a Parmelia sp, but I'm sure like me you have already looked at those?

I think we could do with Alan S's help.
(I'll keep looking).
Dorts.

AlanS · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2011, 12:07 AM

Hi Ken,

It's Physcia caesia - better known as an urban lichen but also occurs in just the habitat you describe. I can just make out the characteristic white flecks (pseudocyphellae) on the upper surface.

I have just upgraded my Physcia pages, so:

Physcia caesia (images of British lichens)

Alan

diggleken · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2011, 08:00 AM

Thanks both, Alan especially for ID of course - excellent pics too Alan on your website........they all are, very useful stuff.
It threw me being upland - I was looking in the wrong reference place!

Cheers
Ken

Johnny81 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2011, 08:03 AM

I was unaware of your lichen site Alan, glad I read this thread. Interesting stuff.

Dorts · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2011, 03:51 PM

Thanks for your help as usual Alan, don't know how i missed that particular excelent pic of Physcia caesia which would have helped my feeble attempts at an ID. Quite distinct now you have pointed us in the right direction.
Dorts.