Lichens of Ireland » Lichen glossary

Podetium

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:39:10 +0000

A stalk found in the group Cladonia. It is hollow and holds the fruiting bodies at the tip.

Siliceous

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:37:26 +0000

A rock rich in the mineral silica. It includes granite, quartzite, gneiss, basalt and rhyolite. The term ‘acid’ is often used to describe these rocks, but the term siliceous is to be preferred.

Trentepohlia

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:34:11 +0000

A filamentous green algae found as the photobiont in some lichen species. It is often seen growing on bark without its fungal partner (especially on birch) and looks orange in colour.

UV Test

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:31:03 +0000

A test to help identify lichens in which ultra violet light is used to show the presence/absence of specific lichen substances.

Trebouxia

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:29:05 +0000

A common green algae found in lichens.

Thallus

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:28:00 +0000

The main vegetative body of the lichen. It is composed of fungal hyphae and a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria).

Thalline margin

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:27:00 +0000

Describes the margin of an apothecium that is continuous with the thallus and is usually the same colour as the thallus.

Terricolous

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:25:24 +0000

Describes lichens that grow on soil.

Symbiosis

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:23:22 +0000

A relationship between two organisms that is usually long term with the following two possibilities: (i) both partners in the symbiosis benefit (mutualistic symbiotic relationship) or (ii) just one partner will benefit at the expense of the other (parasitic symbiotic relationship).

Squamule

paulwhelan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:19:42 +0000

A small leaf-like or scale-like structure typically found in the Cladonia group. It lacks rhizines.