Vibrant green samphire (Salicornia) in vegetated shingle at Shingle Street, coastal Suffolk. Unusual salt-tolerant #plant. And as it's so pretty, this brilliant red peacock #butterfly (Aglais io) spotted nearby. Too bad garden-escape red valerian (Centranthus ruber) is invasive in this rare habitat.

Cladonia polydactyla, C subulata, and C humilis. Three of ten species of heathland #lichens I found in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk. Shows that rare and precious Sandlings lowland heath still remains even under that plantation woodland. Small hope to cling to after devastating Dunwich Heath #wildfire.

Oak #snakefly (Phaeostigma notata). This unusual #insect is distributed widely in southern England, but seldom seen or recorded as adults live high in tree canopy. Lucky observation on oak trunk: this female perhaps descended to find deep, safe bark crevice for her eggs. Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk.

Scythioria (Caloplaca) phlogina. Nationally notable. Recorded only occasionally in Suffolk: this is 8th record for west of county. Nitrogen-tolerant #lichen expanding in Britain (if not overlooked previously). Once associated with elms, but since Dutch elm disease mainly on other basic-bark trees.

Cresponea premnea: main species of internationally rare #lichen community of ancient dry bark, principally #oak. This community takes 300+ years to develop! Now threatened by nitrogen pollution. Virtually exclusive to Britain and Ireland, so it's our responsibility to conserve it. Suffolk, England.

Maybe because I like #lichens, I also like #plants that can grow in rocky places on barest of soils. In Britain, they include small group of native #succulents, of which rose-root (Rhodiola rosea) is one. (This plant from Faroe Islands, though.) From its looks, you don't expect its yellow #flowers!

Black, grey, orange, yellow: colours that #lichens paint northern rocky shores. In these photos: Flavoplaca maritima, Myriolecis actophila, Flavoplaca microthallina, Hydropunctaria maura, Lichina pygmaea, Polycauliona verruculifera. From Faroes, but same colours and lichens on British shores, too.

'False' Irish moss (Mastocarpus stellatus). Differentiated from 'true' Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) by channelled rather than flat fronds. But like its 'true' cousin, this red #algal #seaweed is harvested for 'carrageenan': natural gelatine-like thickener for foods and cosmetics. Vágar, Faroes.

Only ~3% of #lichens are tripartite. #Fungus creates structure, and both #algae and #cyanobacteria (not just one or other) provide nourishment via photosynthesis. Placopsis gelida is their poster-child. Distinctive, pinkish cephalodia serve as 'private apartments' for cyanobacteria. Sandoy, Faroes.

Have you ever seen orange groundwater? It's rust made by #bacteria using dissolved iron and carbon to build their bodies. By rusting iron, they create energy to power #chemosynthesis, like #plants harness light for #photosynthesis. Mind-boggling! This example in seepage from peat on Sandoy, Faroes.

Only ~20% of #lichens are squamulose: built a bit like overlapping scales. Here are four I've seen in past few months, all firsts for me: Placidium squamulosum, Xylopsora caradocensis, Vahliella leucophaea, Protopannaria pezizodes. Aren't they striking! (P. squamulosum with @robyaxley.bsky.social.)

Shrimp's-eye view of miniature submerged jungles. Not trees, but #seaweed. Not the tropics, but #rockpools on northern shores. Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), dulse (Palmaria palmata), gutweed (Ulva intestinalis), Scytosiphon lomentaria and others. Elduvík, Eysturoy and Søltuvík, Sandoy, #FaroeIslands.

Things you find on wet mortared stone walls: aerophytic #algae (species of Trentepohlia, possibly T aurea), #liverworts (species of Conocephalum or 'snakewort', possibly C conicum), and jelly #lichens (Lathagrium auriforme left, Collema flaccidum right). Same wall but not same scale! Gjogv, #Faroes.

This is Ochrolechia tartarea. Common #lichen on stone in British uplands. Unusual flesh-coloured apothecia that look like pork crackling. In #Scotland it was once used to make traditional 'cudbear' dye. Astounding that it can yield such vivid pinks and purples! This specimen from Sandoy, #Faroes.

Hot weather ⇒ open windows ⇒ unexpected house guests. Delighted all the same to welcome a very smart small ranunculus (Hecatera dysodea), and a brilliantly handsome banded damoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). Sadly they rested themselves in corners awkward for good photos! Bungay, Suffolk, England.

An ecologist's essential skills upgrade, courtesy of Clarion First Aid. On my way to a Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid. Love the props. On the syllabus for tomorrow, among other traumas: catastrophic arterial bleeding. We're to wear easily washable clothes as warm, simulated blood is promised...

Returning to nested thread below about parasites that infect #lichens. Some are other lichens! They germinate on their hosts, stealing their #algal photobionts. Classic example: Zeora (Lecanora) sulphurea, which often begins life as parasite of Tephromela atra. This pair from Sandoy, #FaroeIslands.

Anthony Speca | Aspen Ecology@aspenecology.com · 2mo ago

Continuing theme of #fungi parasitising #lichens (see below), two more recent observations: Intralichen lichenicola infecting and blackening apothecia (fruits) of Candelariella vitellina (left, Faroe Islands), and Arthonia apotheciorum doing same to Myriolecis albescens (right, Suffolk, England).

This lovely little acorn #barnacle all alone offered fine chance to clarify useful cirriped morphology for myself. Balanid barnacles are found lower down shore than chthamalids, which they outcompete for space, forcing them to live higher up, and out of water longer between tides. Vágar, #Faroes.

Continuing theme of #fungi parasitising #lichens (see below), two more recent observations: Intralichen lichenicola infecting and blackening apothecia (fruits) of Candelariella vitellina (left, Faroe Islands), and Arthonia apotheciorum doing same to Myriolecis albescens (right, Suffolk, England).

Anthony Speca | Aspen Ecology@aspenecology.com · 2mo ago

It surprises people to learn that #lichens can get ill! These two have #fungal infections: Lecanora polytropa with green Cercidospora epipolytropa; Lepra corallina with black Sclerococcum sphaerale. Common diseases of these species. On Skálhøvdi, Sandoy, #Faroe Islands, but found in Britain, too.

Announcing another opportunity to learn #lichen microscopy with me! My online 'Beginner Lichen Microscopy' course covers all the fundamentals, from microscope basics to some special lighting techniques. No prior microscope experience needed. Starts this September! aspenecology.com/beginner-lic...

Beginner lichen microscopy: register now! - Aspen Ecology

I’m delighted to announce another opportunity to take an online beginner lichen microscopy course with Aspen Ecology! This beginner course will require no previous experience with microscopes. We’ll l...

aspenecology.com

It surprises people to learn that #lichens can get ill! These two have #fungal infections: Lecanora polytropa with green Cercidospora epipolytropa; Lepra corallina with black Sclerococcum sphaerale. Common diseases of these species. On Skálhøvdi, Sandoy, #Faroe Islands, but found in Britain, too.

Nail gall on leaf of lime (Tilia) tree, St Edmundsbury Cathedral churchyard, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Common, tumour-like growth induced by mite Eriophyes tiliae. Mite larvae develop within, literally surrounded by their food source, and protected from predators. Clever and strange!

We interrupt our regular lichen programming to bring you this house #centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) from my cellar. If you've ever wondered what haunts the nightmares of your average household insect pest, now you know. Slightly shiver-inducing, but a welcome predator. Bungay, Suffolk, England.

#Lichen substances can have striking colours and reactions. This is Bacidina egenula, whose blue-green epithecium and outer exciple sharply intensifies in K, and whose red-brown hypothecium dulls. Note also remarkable thread-like spores. First record for VC52 Anglesey. With @robyaxley.bsky.social.

Very proud to be the ‘face of #lichenology’ for new ecology and environment careers exhibit at the Techniquest Science Discovery Centre in #Cardiff! On display all month. Hope it inspires young visitors to notice #lichens, and to imagine studying or working with them. Many thanks to Techniquest!

Myriolecis andrewii is rare, notable #lichen of British rocky shores. Found on siliceous rock in upper part of splash zone. Spectacular orange UV-fluorescence! Can be confused with M fugiens, which fluoresces similarly, but has distinctly yellowish thallus. Anglesey with @robyaxley.bsky.social.

Final post for now in this nested thread about #marine #lichens. Two species of Wahlenbergiella are commonly found on British rocky shores: W striatula (previous post) and W mucosa (here, from recent trip to Faroe Islands). Both live exclusively in intertidal zone, immersed in seawater twice daily!

Anthony Speca | Aspen Ecology@aspenecology.com · 2mo ago

Continuing nested thread below. Alongside Collemopsidium, Wahlenbergiella is another genus of truly #marine #lichens adapted to extreme saltwater habitat. This is W striatula, which is found on siliceous coastal rock in zone between high and low tides. Anglesey, Wales, with @robyaxley.bsky.social.

Factsheet and galleries for Ricasolia (Lobaria) virens now posted! Charismatic #lichen of ancient oceanic woods. Found only in Europe and Macaronesia, with significant British population that we have int'l responsibility to conserve. This one from Kintyre, Scotland. aspenecology.com/ricasolia-lo...

Ricasolia (Lobaria) virens - Aspen Ecology

TAXON: Ricasolia virens (With.) H.H. Blom & Tønsberg (2016) RECENT SYNONYMS: Lobaria laetevirens, Lobaria virens FAMILY: Peltigeraceae GROWTH FORM: Foliose, heteromerous SUBSTRATES: Bark of deciduous ...

aspenecology.com

Continuing nested thread below. Alongside Collemopsidium, Wahlenbergiella is another genus of truly #marine #lichens adapted to extreme saltwater habitat. This is W striatula, which is found on siliceous coastal rock in zone between high and low tides. Anglesey, Wales, with @robyaxley.bsky.social.

Anthony Speca | Aspen Ecology@aspenecology.com · 2mo ago

Collemopsidium (see nested thread below) doesn't occur only on shell. Some species in this genus of #marine #lichens are found mainly on rock. For instance, these thalli of C elegans are growing on quartz pebble, among red encrusting #alga belonging to Hildenbrandia genus. From Kilmory, Scotland.

Join me Saturday 13 June in Waldringfield, Suffolk, to discover the secret world of #lichens! After an introduction to these amazing organisms, we'll go outside to see them 'in the wild'. Thanks to Waldringfield Wildlife Group for inviting me, and @suffolk-nats1929.bsky.social for co-sponsoring.