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Cladonia singhii
Ahti & Dixit
Primary thallus squamulose, the squamules inconspicuous, 1-3 mm wide, finely
dissected, grey above, floccose below, disappearing in mature lichens.
Secondary thallus fruticose, consisting of (1-)2-6(-8) cm tall, 0.5-1 mm thick,
brownish grey podetia which are unbranched to sparsely dichotomously
branched with age, the axils closed, usually without cups, the tips pointed, often
recurved; podetial surface rough, the cortex discontinuous to missing,
microsquamulose to granulose, esorediate; podetial wall with a hard
cartilaginous center and a soft, thin medulla, the central canal furrowed.
Apothecia and pycnidia brown, the former rarely present. Photobiont:
chlorococcoid. Spot-tests: K-, C-, KC-, P+ red. - Very rare, mostly restricted to
humid high elevations sites above 1200 m, in sunny open places, on soil (Side
bank of the Pattipola Road).
Cladonia subdelicatula
Vain. ex Asahina
Primary thallus squamulose, persistent, consisting of narrowly laciniate,
esorediate squamules. Secondary thallus fruticose, consisting of dichotomously
branched podetia without axillary funnels, the tips narrow, subulate. Podetial
surface granular, covered by abundant, finely laciniate squamules, esorediate
(but sometimes soredia-like granules present). Apothecia infrequent, light
brown. Photobiont: chlorococcoid. Spot-tests: K+ yellow, C-. KC-, P+ yellow. -
Rare and localised (Nuwara Eliya), mostly restricted to humid high elevation
forests above 1000 m.
Cladonia submultiformis
Asahina
Primary thallus squamulose, the squamules to 4 mm long and 3 mm wide,
deeply incised, pale green above, white below, gradually disappearing when the
lichen is mature. Secondary thallus fruticose, consisting of pale green-grey
podetia which are to 2 cm tall, simple to sparingly branched, tapering or rarely
terminating in indistinct, perforated cups; branches often longitudinally split,
esorediate, abundantly squamulose, corticate, the cortex more or less continuous
in basal parts, discontinuos in distal parts, exposing an opaque chondroid
cylinder. Apothecia and pycnidia brown, located at the tips of podetia.
Photobiont: chlorococcoid. Spot-tests: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P+ orange-red. -
Rare and localised (Nuwara Eliya), mostly restricted to humid high elevation forests above 1000 m.
Coccocarpia erythroxyli
(Spreng.) Swinscow & Krog
Common name:
fruiting shell lichen
- Thallus foliose, orbicular, loosely
attached, the lobes adjacent, broadly cuneate to flabellate, rounded at apices, to
1 cm wide, bluish grey to whitish grey, with concentric ridges. Lower surface
usually pale brown but sometimes deeper brown to black, glabrous, rhizinate;
rhizines white, light to dark brown or black, scarce to numerous, sometimes
forming a dense hypothallus. Apothecia (not observed in Sri Lankan material)
mostly laminal, irregularly orbicular, 1-4 (-9) mm wide, adnate or sessile;
margin: thin, only visible in young apothecia; disc reddish brown to black, flat
to strongly convex. Spores narrowly to broadly fusiform to ellipsoid, colourless,
1-celled. Photobiont: cyanobacterial (
Scytonema
). Spot-tests: K-,C-, KC-, P-. -
Common and widespread on mature trunks of trees in shady situations or in open rocky substrates, mostly in humid mid
elevation to high elevation forests above 700m. Even found in disturbed sites and amidst man-made vegetation types,
e.g. locally common in home gardens in high elevation areas.
Coccocarpia pellita
(Ach.) Müll. Arg.
Thallus foliose, orbicular, loosely attached, the lobes adjacent, broadly cuneate, rounded at apices, to 1 cm wide, often
thin and fragile, bluish grey to whitish grey when dry and yellowish to bluish grey when wet. Rhizines sparse, white to
bluish black, projecting beyond the apices of lobes. Flattened isidia (phyllidia) abundant. Apothecia not seen.
