Foliose Lichen

What colours can you see?

In Tasmania there are three main groups of foliose lichen, which can be distinguished by the coloration of the fruiting bodies (apothecia) or the underside of the “leaves” (thalli).

• Pseudocyphellaria – Red/brown fruiting bodies (apothecia).
• Peltigera – Large shield-shaped thalli with no colour on the underside
• Parmelia – Thallus is black or brown on the underside

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This site is a photographic field guide rather than a rigorous biological classification of Tasmanian lichens. For further information on the formal classification of  lichens, see this article from the Australian National Botanic Gardens.