Order: Lecanorales       Family: Physciaceae Species: Physconia distorta Growth type foliose. Palmate lobes, green when wet, brown-grey dry, lobe ends white pruinose. Often small lobules in centre of thallus. Under-surface whitish at tips, black in centre with black 'bottle-brush' rhizines. Pseudocyphellae, isidia and soralia absent. Apothecia frequent, brown with coarse pruina and thick, sometimes lobate, margin. Pycnidia frequent. The asci are 8-spored, spores brown, 1-septate, 25-40 x 12-20 µm. Micro photograph below. Widespread on basic or nutrient-rich trees, also on mossy rocks. Cortex and medulla K- Similar: Physconia perisidiosa, isidiate, medulla negative. P. enteroxantha, sorediate, apothecia rare. Medulla K+ yellow.

Microscope photographs:

Physconia distorta. December 2008, May 2010, January 2012