Description: Typically, this small, brown to greyish-brown scaly-lobed, epiphytic species is surrounded by a conspicuous black hypothallus. The edges of the small lobes bear numerous projections (isidia) that may be like sticks of coral, policemen’s truncheons or flappy like a pig’s ear. Discs are rare. Parmeliella triptophylla is a species of tree boles and branches, occurring in western Ireland in woodland habitats with a long continuity. It is most frequently seen on ash, though may also be found on more acid tree species such as oak. It is a lichen whose algal partner, Nostoc, gives it a bluish tinge.

Key Identification Features:

• The grey-brown colour, bluish tinge, small size, specialised habitat, isidiate lobe edges and black hypothecium should mark it out as distinctive
• Parmeliella parvula is smaller, consisting of a paler blue to reddish-brown thallus and lacks the black hypothallus. Pannaria conoplea is always a much paler blue and also has a definite lobed margin.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

Distribution Map from NBN: Parmeliella thriptophylla at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Parmeliella thriptophylla at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.