Ramalina calicaris

[Warwickshire-Lad]

R.Calicaris is not found in Warwickshire according to the Species maps so would like a second opinion on this find. Dislodged from higher level and found lying at the side of a footpath so not in the best of conditions as may have been there a while.

Photographs attached below any thoughts appreciated.

[John Skinner]

I don’t think this is Ramalina calicaris which, in my experience, is more deeply channelled and generally skinnier in apearance. I suspect that the slightly swollen lobes and the apothecia suggest R. fastigiata.

[Warwickshire-Lad]

Thanks John – got a bit over excited on this one as often find R.fastigata but typically more compact with visibly much larger apothecia on the perimeter.

[Neil Sanderson]

I remembered I had a good picture for this:

[attachment=1]2011-08-20-04.JPG[/attachment]
Ramalina fastigiata (centre left above) and Ramalina calicaris (especially to right) together, on Sallow, Lily Ponds, Stackpole.

Also:

[attachment=0]2011-08-20-05.JPG[/attachment]
Ramalina calicaris in all its glory, on Sallow, Lily Ponds, Stackpole.

Neil

[John Norton]

Ramalina fastigiata seems to vary a lot in its morphology. When I was looking at it regularly several years ago I frequently came across a strange growth form with spiky projections at the ends of the lobes and often poorly developed apothecia, as in your image – it can masquerade as various other species. Here is a shot which seems to show the typical form (above) and the ‘spiky’ form (below), I think on the trunk of a Sorbus tree (so not a typical situation, which may have something to do with the growth form).

[attachment=0]Ramalina fastigiata DRA6080.jpg[/attachment]

John Norton, Gosport, Hampshire

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