Evernia prunastri
Foliose lichen
Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Common lichen, usually growing on deciduous trees and shrubs. Reasonably tolerant of air pollution. Formerly used as a source of dyes. Also a source of antibiotic. Favoured by Long-tailed Tits, that use this lichen in nest building. Attached to the bark by a holdfast. Generally darker on the upper surface due to accumulation of green algal cells in the upper part of the thallus.
Photograph detail
Slide 1: Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. Disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. October.
Slide 2: Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. Well Bank/Mill Lane, Redmire. March.
Slide 3: Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. Well Bank/Mill Lane, Redmire. March.
Slide 4: Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Holdfast. Collected from Well Bank/Mill Lane, Redmire. March.
Slide 5: Evernia prunastri, Foliose lichen. Section of thallus showing green algal cells in upper half of the thallus. Photographed at x100, brightfield illumination. Collected from Well Bank/Mill Lane, Redmire. March.