Description: Among all the four ‘lungwort’ lichens, L. amplissima is the rarest. It forms large, robust, foliose patches that are grey-white when dry and greener when wet, sometimes even exceeding 30cm diam. The large, wavy lobes have neatly notched margins. It may often be found with shrub-like outgrowths called cephalodia (amusingly referred to as ‘cabbages’ by lichenologists), otherwise called Dendriscocaulon umhausense when they occur independently. L. amplissima is a species of old woodland. Most recent sightings were from Counties Wicklow and Kerry. Previously, it had a more widespread distribution that included Counties Mayo, Cork and Antrim.

Key Identification Features:

• Dinner-plate-sized species with a pale thallus and notched, neatly rounded lobe margins; often there are densely branched shrubby outgrowths called cephalodia (‘cabbages’) present
• On trunks and boughs of old, mature trees such as oak, ash and sycamore; oceanic areas; mainly western.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Ricasolia amplissima at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.