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On the lookout for lichen - 5 Norfolk species and how to find them

Coral lichen (credit: Ben Porter)

With help from county recorder, Robert Yaxley, we explore 5 Norfolk lichen species and share some tips on how to find them!

Ever wondered what all those crinkly, leathery and sometimes hairy bits that cling to trees are? It’s not a moss or a fungi, it’s lichen! 

Lichens are neither a plant nor an animal, they’re actually made up of a combination of several different organisms – a fungus, an algae, and/or a cyanobacteria (photosynthetic bacteria). Together they exist in a mutually beneficial relationship called symbiosis. How lovely!

In this partnership, the fungus provides shelter whilst the algae/and or cyanobacteria create ‘food’ via photosynthesis. There’s been a bit of a debate amongst naturalists and scientists over just how mutual these partnerships are – understandable with such a huge variety of couplings out there – but generally speaking, they make an excellent team. 

Identifying lichens can be a tricky business that takes a bit of patience – form, colour, size and even taste can be important factors, and sometimes investigation under a microscope is needed to get a super precise ID. Some lichens even glow beautiful colours under UV light, how cool is that?

With around 580 species found in Norfolk (so far…), venturing into the world of lichen can seem a bit daunting, but with the help of our county recorder Robert Yaxley, we’ve compiled 5 relatively common Norfolk species with some top tips on how to find them.

Typical lichen habitats:

Lichen communities can be found in a wide variety of habitats, and sometimes in surprising places! Trees and walls are good places to start looking, but any exposed hard surface is likely to develop a few species of lichen eventually. Fence posts, wooden sheds, stabilised coastal shingle, park benches, heathland and even old vehicles can support really interesting lichen communities.

Churchyards are also a really good place to find lichens, especially if they have a lot of sunlight and different kinds of headstones. Lichens obtain minor amounts of minerals from the surfaces they grow on and the subtle chemistry of these surfaces can therefore have a strong influence on where they grow. Up to 50 species in a single churchyard is not unusual.

5 common Norfolk species:

A yellow lichen that looks at bit like the suckers of a tentacle but in yellow and orange colours

Xanthoria parietina (credit: Robert Yaxley)

1. Xanthoria parietina (Starburst lichen ⭐)

This is the very common yellow leafy lichen that has colonized all sorts of different surfaces in recent years. It can be found on twigs, walls, concrete and even road signs! It is very tolerant of airborne pollutants, particularly ammonia. High levels of ammonia are a current indicator of poor air quality, and this accounts for its recent increase in abundance.

A burst of green lichen on a branch in little lil pad shapes at the end of long stem-like bodies.

Ramalina fastigiata (credit: Robert Yaxley)

2. Ramalina fastigiata (Ramalina 🌿)

This is an example of a branching lichen that hangs free and lives on bark and twigs. It is attached by a holdfast. The trumpet-shaped fruiting bodies are distinctive. This and other similar species can prefer certain tree species like apple and blackthorn.

This lichen is grey and grows in flat discs across a log

Haematomma ochroleucum lichen (credit: Robert Yaxley)

3. Haematomma ochroleucum var. porphyrium (Bloodspot lichen 🩸)

This is an example of a crust lichen, which cannot easily be separated from the surface it grows on. This species is usually bluish grey and rough-textured with a fibrous, wispy looking white edge. The fruiting bodies are rare, but when they appear, are blood-red. The photo appears to show “growth rings” a bit like a tree, presumably relating to annual variations in growth of the lichen.

Lichen that is a mix of pale turquoise, white and deep red. It looks a bit like a cluster of antlers together.

Cladonia arbuscula lichen (credit: Robert Yaxley)

4. Cladonia arbuscula (Reindeer lichen 🦌)

This species can be found growing on the ground in bushy clumps in sand dunes. This group of lichens are often known as reindeer lichens, and are often indicators of good quality habitats.

Lichen that look like round grey/pale pink blobs

Ochrolechia parella lichen (credit: Robert Yaxley)

5. Ochrolechia parella (Crab’s-eye lichen 🦀)

This lichen is another crust lichen found on headstones in churchyards, and has a distinctive donut-shaped fruiting body. It can cover large areas, resembling whitewash, although beware – there are many other species that look like whitewash from a distance!

Learn more about lichens via the British Lichen Society

 

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