Lichens of Avebury

Anaptychia runcinata.A snazzy member of the Physicidae I found on a standing stone at Avebury. Normally a coastal species, there is a strange outlier population in Wiltshire.

These are associated with the sarsen stones...blocks of sandstone scattered over the remaining semi natural tracts of downland.

These are the weathered remnants of a sedimentary layer once overlying the chalk.

Blocks of which form the standing stones of Avebury and the distinctive stone walls and buildings of this part of Wiltshire.

Next up, Diploicia canescsns

Very common on basic and very nutrient enriched trees rocks and walls. Found on the wall next to St James Church, Avebury, where it was abundant.

An indicator that the area might well be negatively impacted by both road emmissions and agricultural emissions both from fertiliser drift and  intensive livestock operations.

Edges look like lots of plasticine fingers that got squashed.

I shall add more as I ID them 🥰

#lichenology #botany #ecology