Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

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15 Veteran oak tree covered in lichens, mosses and ferns, Ariundle NNR, Ardnamurchan
The best lichen sites are on sunny, south-facing slopes while the rare Atlantic mosses and liverworts, which need more moisture, favour northern aspects. The optimal sites for lichens are also well lit being around the edge of glades or along woodland margins. While the whole area is a lichenologists’ Mecca, sites where burns and gorges cut through the woodland are particularly special. Here, in ravines full of tangled vegetation, there is a wider range of trees - oak together with ash, elm, cherry and willows. Ash and hazel have a more alkaline bark and are a home to 'jewels' such as the handsome Specklebellies (Pseudocyphellaria species) and Blackberries and Custard (Parmentaria chilense). On higher ground the oak woods give way to grazed birch woodland which is a different, but equally distinctive, lichen-rich variant of Celtic rain forest. It is dominated by silvery-grey leafy species many of which grow directly on tree bark. This bark has a high acidity due to 'washing out' or leaching by the high rainfall. These western woods are far from being undisturbed relics of the ancient forest. In times past, these woods were extensively coppiced, and the wood used for charcoal, tanning and bobbin-making. This activity ceased about 150 years ago, but it is thought there was always sufficient wildwood remaining for the entire suite of rare lichens to survive. Today the best examples of these woodlands are managed for nature conservation. Netted Shield Lichen (Parmelia sulcata) showing the powdery reproductive parts (soralia) 16
Page 1 and 2: Lichens naturally scottish There ar
Page 3 and 4: © Scottish Natural Heritage 2004 I
Page 5 and 6: Foreword Whilst Scotland's outstand
Page 7 and 8: VIII Lichen-covered oak trees at Ar
Page 9 and 10: 2 Orange Sea Star (Caloplaca verruc
Page 11 and 12: H ow lichens multiply and disperse
Page 13 and 14: 6 Inside a Harris tweed factory wit
Page 15 and 16: W hat’s in a name? Many Scottish
Page 17 and 18: T he exceptional Scottish climate L
Page 19 and 20: A ir as pure as wine? Most people a
Page 21: I mportant habitats for lichens T h
Page 25 and 26: C aledonian pinewoods It is a myth
Page 27 and 28: Hazel stems covered in mosses, live
Page 29 and 30: A lpines galore Only a tiny fractio
Page 31 and 32: 24 The rare Goblin Lights (Catolech
Page 33 and 34: T he coast Several features combine
Page 35 and 36: Lichen heath in the stabilized dune
Page 37 and 38: B lanket bog Most level ground in t
Page 39 and 40: C onservation It should be clear by
Page 41 and 42: B iodiversity Action Plan and the R
Page 43 and 44: F inding out more about lichens Lis
Page 45 and 46: Also in the Naturally Scottish seri

Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

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