Summary[
edit] Description: English: A lichen - Xanthoparmelia conspersa (Synonym: Parmelia conspersa) This lichen was growing on boulders that are the remains of an ancient hill fort on Carman Hill; see:
697526. This lichen has a bright green colour (from the presence of the compound usnic acid in its outer layer). It has well-defined lobes at the edges, but the middle of the lichen is arranged in diffuse heaps. Closer inspection of these through a hand-lens reveals that they are masses of little rod-like structures that are branched like coral. These are called isidia, and are reproductive structures; they contain fungal and algal cells (the two components that make up a lichen), and, when broken off and dispersed, can develop into new lichens. The presence of this lichen reveals several facts about its location; this species grows on acid rocks, needs full exposure to sunlight, and also requires organic nitrogen [see e.g. Chapter 5 of "Understanding Lichens" by George Baron]. The boulders on which it is growing are set on a south-facing slope near the summit of the hill, and so receive full sunlight; the nitrogenous nutrients that the lichen needs are left behind by birds which perch on these rocks. Date: 13 February 2008. Source: From
geograph.org.uk. Author:
Lairich Rig. Attribution(
required by the license)Lairich Rig / A lichen - Xanthoparmelia conspersa /
CC BY-SA 2.0. Lairich Rig / A lichen - Xanthoparmelia conspersa. Camera location
55° 58′ 52″ N, 4° 36′ 39″ W View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap 55.981010; -4.610800. Object location
55° 58′ 51″ N, 4° 36′ 40″ W View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap 55.980820; -4.611100.