Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka

Fo
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Heterodermia barbifera
Heterodermia circinalis
IC
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Fo
Physciaceae
Description Foliose. The thallus is corticolous, adnate and lobate. Lobes are
sublinear to wide. The upper surface is greyish white to grey. The lower surface
is white. Rhizines are present along the lobe margins. Apothecia are abundant.
Status Spotted in a few localities, but not commonly found. This species is easily
identified by the greyish apothecia which look like “Bunch of Flowers” and the
black rhizine mat.
Habitat Grows especially on twigs and branches in both moist and open sunny
situations. Mostly found at forest margins.
Description Foliose, grey to white, thin straps with long, black, branched hairs;
turns brown when dry in exposed and dry conditions. Cilia are abundant, black
and not branched. Apothecia are common, star shaped and apothecial margins
lack cilia.
Status This locally abundant species can be easily spotted as it forms a large
colony which looks like black or brownish grey “messy hair” on the mature trunks
of trees in shady interiors and roadside soil banks and moist rocks. This species
is known as “fringe lichen” in the western world. New record for the Indian
subcontinent and Sri Lanka.
Physciaceae
Locations Deenston, Corbets Gap, Riverston and Knuckles mountain of Knuckles
mountain region and few places in Nuwara Eliya.
Habitat Mostly found in humid forests and undisturbed areas above 1000 m.
Locations Horton Plains , Knuckles mountain region, Nuwara Eliya and a few
places in Kandy.
82 Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka
Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka 83