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outgrowths that may resemble isidia. Apothecia common and abundant,
adjoined in clumps and lines on the ridges, the discs orange brown. Spores
colourless, narrowly spindle-shaped, 5-7 septate. Photobiont: cyanobacterial
(
Nostoc
). Spot-tests: K-,C-, KC-, P-. - Common, mainly on the mature canopy
branches of trees in rainforest edges in submontane and montane areas (Central
Highlands, high elevation wet zone forests, Meemure and Kalupahana areas of
the Knuckles mountain region).
Dendriscosticta platyphylloides
(Nyl.) Moncada & Lücking
Thallus foliose, mostly found among other mosses and epiphytes, adnate,
horizontally spreading, 6-15(-20) cm across, forming loosely attached rosettes,
the margins rounded to incised, yellowish green when wet, yellowish grey to
brownish yellow when dry, the marginal area tessellate-tomentose. Isidia and
soredia absent. Lower surface pale to dark brown, with conspicuous, saucer-
shaped, 2-3 mm wide cyphellae. Apothecia marginal to submarginal, lecanorine,
to 7 mm across (not observed in Sri Lankan material). Spores colourless,
acicular, transversely 1-5 septate. Photobiont: chlorococcoid, with additional
cephalodia containing
Nostoc
in the medulla. Spot-tests: upper cortex K+
yellow or K-, medulla K-, C-, KC-, P-. - Very rare. mostly in humid, high
elevation forest areas (Knuckles mountain region: only seen in a few sites off Kalupahana).
Diploschistes muscorum
(Scop.) R.Sant.
Common name:
Cowpie lichen
- Thallus crustose, white to pale grey,
continuous to weakly areolate, the surface uneven, with a white prothallus.
Apothecia 1-2 mm in diameter, the disc black to dark brown, white-pruinose,
crater-like, embedded in the thallus, often with a double margin, the thalline
margin slightly raised above the thallus. Asci 4-spored. Spores muriform,
brown. Photobiont: chlorococcoid. Spot-tests: K+ yellow to red, C+ red, KC-,
P-, UV-: diploschistesic and lecanoric acids (both major) and orsellinic acid
(minor). - Rare, mostly found in disturbed, fully exposed, sunny situations, on
soil (Nawalapitiya).
Everniastrum cirrhatum
(Fr.) Hale ex Sipman
Thallus foliose to subfruticose, suberect to pendulous, very loosely attached,
richly dichotomously or subdichotomously branched, with strongly involute,
narrow lobes (0.8-1 mm wide). Upper surface pale to dark grey, lacking
vegetative propagules. Lower surface black (or dark brown) with paler tips and
rhizines more or less restricted to the margins. Apothecia common, lecanorine,
with hollow stalks. Spores colourless, 1-celled. Photobiont: chlorococcoid.
Cortex K+ yellow (atranorin). Medulla K+ yellow turning red, C–, KC-, P+
orange (salazinic acid and a fatty acid). - Rare, mostly found on trees and
shrubs, rarely on rocks, in humid forests above 1400 m (Horton Plains).
Fuscopannaria coerulescens
P.M. Jørg.
Thallus squamulose, the squamules up to 3 mm diam., forming cushions up to 3
cm diam. Upper surface brown, with white-felted margins which are densely
beset with ecorticate blue-grey lobules. Isidia and soredia absent. Apothecia (not
seen on Sri Lankan material) up to 2 mm diam., with flat, blackish disc and a
conspicuously lobulate thalline margin. Spores colourless, 1-celled. Photobiont:
cyanobacterial (
Nostoc
). Spot-tests: K-, C-, KC-, P- (two unidentified fatty
acids). - Very rare in humid forests above 1600 m, growing together with
bryophytes on tree trunks (Horton Plains).
