Description: This rare species of Ramalina is easily overlooked for R. farinacea (described elsewhere), with which it often grows. It has hollow, twisted branches that are both swollen and smooth-textured often with terminal lip-shaped soralia that are K+ red. It is a species of sunny, sheltered coastal sites of south-west and western Ireland where it grows mainly on tree trunks and more rarely among rocks, heather and scrub near the sea.

Key Identification Features:

• Like R. farinacea in size and shape but has more contorted branches with inflated, hollow stems
• It tends to have terminal soralia that are K+ red (mainly K- in R. farinacea).

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Ramalina portuensis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.