Common epiphytic lichens

A lovely little suite of common epiphytic lichens. Usnea subfloridana, Ramalina farinacea, hammered shield lichen Parmelia sulcata and Parmotrema perlatum on scrub in the Carrifran Wildwood in the Moffat Hills.

The new wood and scrub in this area is developing an impressive epiphytic lichen flora although nothing I saw was particularly unusual, but all of these species are part of an assemblage which disappeared in many areas due to being sensitive to Sulphur Dioxide pollution. Since emmissions have been cleaned up it's rapidly regained lost ground.

I've even seen this assemblage flourishing in a Morrisons car park!

It is amazing the distance lichen spores can travel in recolonising lost territories.

But also not surprising considering that they are a pioneer species group which have literally evolved to conquer new worlds.

#lichen #ecology #botany