Description: This ‘lungwort’ lichen is easily identified by its green-grey greasy appearance, almost oily when wet. It is a ‘heavyweight’ amongst the foliose lichens. It possesses no isidia soredia or large black, bubbly outgrowths and has smooth lobes. In the wet, it glows bright green. In south-western Ireland, in the west of County Kerry, this is the commonest of the Lobaria species. It occurs in woodland with a long ecological history, as well as on shaded and often damp rocks near the sea. It is also relatively frequent on isolated wayside trees in suitable areas.

Key Identification Features:

• The greasy, heavyweight thallus, bright green when wet and lack of isidia, soredia or black knobbly outgrowths will help to identify it
• Other ‘lungwort’ lichens may occur with it, but none of these appear the slightest bit greasy.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Ricasolia virens at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.