Description: This dark-brown, sparsely isidiate, regularly multi-lobed (to 8cm wide), foliose species occurs usually on trees in swamps by loughs, in ancient undisturbed woodlands and on mossy rocks. It is most commonly recorded from Ireland’s humid south-western woodlands. Like S. fuliginosa (described elsewhere) it gives off a strong fishy smell when wet.

Key Identification Features:

• Dark-brown, multi-lobed thallus becoming rather large (single lobed in S. fuliginosa)
• The surface of the thallus on well-developed examples have isidia widely scattered, unlike S. fuliginosa where the isidia can often smother the lobes.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Sticta sylvatica at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.