Xanthoparmelia cumberlandiandia. These lichens may be immortal. See the New YoK Times article: nyti.ms/VtDY79 . Photographed at Point Reyes National Seashore.
Kohler's Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen mit kurz erlauterndem Texte :.Gera-Untermhaus :Fr. Eugen Kohler,[1883-1914].biodiversitylibrary.org/page/303706
2010.04.18 Austria, Upper Austria, district Freistadt (forest with mainly spruce, 945 m).Upper side (light grey, with isidia).Common in highland forests.German name: Baummoos (Kleienflechte)Wirth/Dll, Farbatlas Flechten und Moose (2010)
I got a big book on lichens. We'll see how far I get on this one. Next time I need to bring a hand lens.Ok, so despite the fact that the key seemed relatively easy to follow, it didn't lead me to anything that looked even remotely right, so I resorted to flipping, and arrived at Tuckermannopsis. That plus the range maps and some Googling lead me to Tuckermannopsis (Cetraria) orbata, the variable wrinkle-lichen. Anyone have an opinions?Observed in Huckleberry Botanic Preserve, Oakland, CA, USA. The clump shown is maybe 4-5 cm wide.