Irish lichens

Order: Peltigerales       Family: Peltigeraceae

Species: Ricasolia virens (Lobaria virens)

Growth type foliose.
Photos: On mature Oak trunks. Glengarrif woods, Cork, SW Ireland.

Large thallus, grey-brown when dry, 'greasy' green when wet. Overlapping, short, unridged lobes, whitish and tomentose below. Soralia and isidia are absent. Apothecia frequent, brown with warted margins. Asci are 8-spored, spores pale brown or colourless, 1(-3) septate, 25-45 x 8-11 µm. Micrographs below.

Found in old woodland on isolated trees and also on damp, shaded coastal rocks. Most common Lobaria in SW Ireland. Chemistry usually negative, sometimes K+ faint yellow, KC+ faint pink

Similar: L. amplissima. Rare, KC+ deep pink. Apothecia occasional


Lobaria virens

Lobaria virens       Lobaria virens

Lobaria virens       Lobaria virens

Microscope photographs
Lobaria virens, ascus

Lobaria virens, ascus, microscope photos
Dry Lobaria virens on mature oak. Glengarriff woods. January 2009

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