LICHALP

Ramalina intermedia (Delise ex Nyl.) Nyl.

Lichenised.

Substrate: siliceous rocks

Altitudinal range: from the mesomediterranean belt (potential vegetation: evergreen broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus ilex) to the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies)

Note: a usually sterile species with tufted, stiff, erect, richly branched thalli (to 3 cm tall) with flattened laciniae (to 2 mm wide) and excavate, marginal, laminal and apical soralia producing granular soredia, containing lichen substances of the sekikaic acid syndrome, based on a type from Newfoundland; often confused with the usually larger R. subfarinacea (3 strains with either salacinic or/and norstictic acids) and R. pollinaria (with diagnostic evernic acid syndrome); on acidic rocks; very rare in Europe; the records from the Alps are in need of critical re-examination.