parmelia caperata and hypotrachyna revoluta?

[007LOU]

Hello,
I'm a trainee teacher and new to the site. Am hoping to carry out a project on Lichen with my pupils and so am trying it out myself.
However I need some help to identify these Lichen in my local woods.

Any help would be appreciated!










Thanx

[AlanS]

Hi Lou, welcome to the site.

Unfortunately I have to begin with a couple of general remarks.
i) as we don't know where you live, your "local woods" no doubt are meaningful to you, but not to us - and geography may be helpful in working out lichen IDs.
ii) your photography needs to be much clearer I am afraid. There is not much we can do with these pics.

Anyhow on to what can be named:

1. Flavoparmelia caperata (formerly Parmelia caperata) - so you are right on that.

2. Difficult to make out critical detail, but the largest patches might be Pertusaria leioplaca. This is more common in dampish woods in the north and west, which is why I wanted to see where your "local woods" are. Also I think I can make out an Opegrapha species (?atra) and maybe a Graphis, which in combination again suggest the west. However, I cannot be sure on ANY of these as pin-sharp detail is needed.

3. The grey foliose species is probably Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia caperata). The tufted species is even more difficult to make out but is most likely Ramalina farinacea or Evernia prunastri, probably the first of these two.

4. Seem to be several things here, but closer and clearer views are needed to ID any of them. Sorry.

Good luck in this exercise.

Alan

[poschiavanus]

Just a quick note on what looks like a typo which might cause confusion:

Originally Posted by AlanS

3. The grey foliose species is probably Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia caperata). The tufted species is even more difficult to make out but is most likely Ramalina farinacea or Evernia prunastri, probably the first of these two.

Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia caperata) should read Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia perlata. In some books (and I think the FSC lichen on twigs sheet this is called Parmotrema chinense. Also most of my references (Dobson V, BLS Synonym list) have the specific epithet as perlatum.

[007LOU]

Thank you both for your quick replies, it has been very helpful.

The woods I visited are in Devon, sorry i forgot to say, and will try and take more detailed photographs next time.

Thanks again

[AlanS]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

Just a quick note on what looks like a typo which might cause confusion:

Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia caperata) should read Parmotrema perlata (formerly Parmelia perlata. In some books (and I think the FSC lichen on twigs sheet this is called Parmotrema chinense. Also most of my references (Dobson V, BLS Synonym list) have the specific epithet as perlatum.

Ooops, Posch is quite right.

I did mean to post "Parmotrema perlatum" and yes, its principal synonym is Parmelia perlatum. I am not sure that I was at peak brightness.

Alan

[pleb]

Hi Lou,

Good luck with your lichen project. From your message I gather you live in Devon? If so, then it may be worth your while to contact Barbara Benfield who is the leading authority on lichens in the county. She may have some suggestions that would be of help to you.

Her contact details are given here The British Lichen Society - Regional and Specialist Referees

phil

[pleb]

....or try contacting Bob Hodgson if you live at the Plymouth end of the county.

The British Lichen Society - Regional and Specialist Referees

phil

[AlanS]

Good ideas from Phil.

Both are friendly, helpful people.

Alan

[MattPrince]

Originally Posted by AlanS

Good ideas from Phil.

Both are friendly, helpful people.

Alan

I'd agree that an email to Bob or Barbara would be a very good idea. I've been lucky enough to go out lichenizing (is that the word?) with Barbara on several occasions as part of an informal Devon lichen group, and I'll vouch for her approachability, amazing knowledge (and eye!) and add "very patient with beginners".

If you haven't got it, the FSC twigs sheet mentioned already is a good starting point for a beginner looking at woodland lichens - even if you have the de facto guide book already, as it narrows your options to the commoner suspects first.

Regards,
Matt