Irish lichens

Ephebe lanata
Order: Lichinales       Family: Lichinaceae

Species: Ephebe lanata

Growth type filamentous.
Photos: On acidic upland rock. Ballingeary, Cork, SW Ireland.

Soft dark-green or black thallus, slightly branched and with much-divided filaments tapering to points. Mat-forming growth. Small, globose apothecia develop from the pycnidia but are rarely formed in Britain and Ireland. Asci are 8-spored, spores 0-1 septate, 11-18 x 3.5-6 µm. Micrograph of thallus structure below.

On damp or aquatic rocks in acidic upland areas and in seepage tracks on siliceous rocks and boulders. Chemical reactions negative.

Similar: Ephebe hispidula and Cystocoleus ebeneus


Ephebe lanata

Ephebe lanata

Ephebe lanata

Microscope photograph
Ephebe lanata
Ephebe lanata. February and August 2009

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