As you may well be aware of by now, I’m no expert on lichens, even though I love taking photographs of them. I’m guessing this lichen, which I found growing on a small rotting branch in the woods at Balbirnie House Park, is a member of the Fruticose Cup or Trumpet group of lichens.
Yellow Fruticose?? Lichen from Balbirnie Park, nr Glenrothes
If anyone recognises this beautiful wee lichen, I’d really like to a bit more about it.
Thanks to Inese from inesemjphotography, who I think has correctly identified my mystery lichen. It looks like it’s Xanthoria parietina, a foliose lichen that is sometimes known as common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen or shore lichen. It prefers growing on bark, but can also be found on rocks, especially those that are likely to be splattered by bird droppings, which enhances its ability to grow.
Fife Photos & Art 
It looks like lichen. I do not know the name. Beautiful photo.
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Thank you Laura 🙂 And you’re right, it’s definitely a lichen 🙂
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Have a particular fondness for lichen. Someone told me once they can only live in a healthy forest. Whether that’s true or not, it made them even more beautiful.
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I think you’re right JB, I know they don’t grow on gravestones in polluted cities, so I guess the same applies to forests, especially those forests near large cities.
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Lichen never looked so good to me before your photographs.
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Thanks Ruth, I appreciate that comment 🙂
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I recognize the lichen from seeing it around but I don’t know it’s name. I love lichen too. My husband often looks puzzled when I stop to take photos of lichen and rust as he doesn’t get the appeal.
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It appears that there are a few of us on here that like lichen, Laura 🙂 But your hubby is in the majority in the outside world, I often find I’m getting strange looks too, as I huddle down in a damp ditch, or lie down on wet ground to get that perfect shot!! 🙂
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I was once photographed by a group of tourists as I lay flat in the mud on Mull in order to get a photo of a road next to some fungi. I was their tourist attraction. Ha ha!
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That’s brilliant Laura!!!! Hopefully you were as pleased with the mushrooms, as the tourists were with the photos of you 🙂
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I think the study of lichens is a science in itself, Andy! I wish I could help. I know the problem, as we have hundreds of lichen photos ourselves! It’s a brilliant pic, though, whatever it turns out to be.
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Thanks Jo 🙂 I know that problem all to well, I can’t resist taking photos of them, they are almost addictive. One of these days I will spend some serious time getting to know more than the very basics about them.
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This one looks like yours, I found it in Wiki. Don’t know if my comment goes through your spam filter though…
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Xanthoria parietina it is, the link didn’t get through 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I’ll do a google search, I’m sure I’ll find it! Just had a quick look, and it certainly looks like you’re right!!! Thanks again Inese, I really appreciate that 🙂
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Lovely shot, Andy, it’s wonderfully alien-looking.
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Thank you Lorna 🙂 And I hadn’t thought about that, for this photo, but it does look rather alien 🙂
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I’m not surprised that Inese could identify your mysterious lichen. She’s extremely knowledgeable about all types of flora and fauna. I think it’s really pretty thing and would brighten up any tree bark. Lovely photo, Andy. 🙂
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I’ve only just discovered how good Inese is, both with identification and her photography is brilliant too 🙂 Glad you liked the lichen photo 🙂
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She is excellent, isn’t she – and such a lovely person. I love her posts.
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