Parmelia sulcata
A foliose lichen
Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Widespread throughout lowland Britain and quite resistant to air pollution. Found in Redmire on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa bark. Reproduction appears to be mainly by soredia, which are small propagules containing fungal hyphae and algal cells. Soredia are produced in structures called soralia.
Photograph detail
Slide 1: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 2: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Showing masses of soralia on ther upper thallus surface. Disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 3: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Young thallus overgrown with the red coloured alga Trentepohlia. Collected from disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 4: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Soralia on split edges of upper thallus surface. Collected from disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 5: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Soralia on upper thallus surface. Collected from disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 6: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Underside of thallus showing rhizines. Collected from disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.
Slide 7: Parmelia sulcata, a foliose lichen. Growing on Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, bark. Shown with another lichen, Ramalina farinacea. Disused railway. Hargill, Redmire. April.