Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka

Fo
C
Heterodermia comosa
Heterodermia diademata Cupped fringe lichen
C
Fo
Physciaceae
Description Foliose. The corticolous thallus is attached by basal parts. Lobes are
sub-erect. The upper surface is whitish grey with dense cilia. The lower surface
is pale, and sorediate apices were seen sometimes. Apothecia are not seen in Sri
Lankan material.
Status Commonly found. However, this species is restricted to certain patches
within known localities and misidentified in most collections obtained from Sri
Lanka.
Habitat Corticolous, seen on twigs in both humid and exposed conditions.
Above 1000m, in wet upper montane forests.
Locations : Matale district.
Description Foliose. Lobes are adjacent to one another, more or less plane and
short. The upper surface is evenly thick and greyish to white in colour. The lower
surface has a cortex and rhizines. Isidia and soredia are absent. Apothecia are
numerous, brown colour, laminal, and sessile. The margin of thalline exciple is
crenulate to lobulate.
Status This locally abundant species can be easily spotted on the twigs and
branches of trees in shaded, humid interiors. Few individuals were observed
on sheltered rocks. This pretty species can be easily identified by the numerous
brown crenulate to lobulate apothecia on its thallus.
Habitat Common in both manmade and natural habitats above 1000m. It
mostly grows together with mosses and bryophytes.
Physciaceae
Locations Knuckles mountain region, Horton Plains, Kandy, Kegalle, Matale, and
Ratnapura districts.
84 Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka
Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka 85