Degelia plumbea

It has lead-gray lobes with a brain-like, deeply ridged surface. The unusual texture makes it visually different from flatter foliose lichens such as Pseudocyphellaria aurata.

Degelia plumbea is a large foliose cyanolichen. Its visible body is formed by a lichen partnership that includes a fungus and a cyanobacterial photosynthetic partner.

It is associated with oceanic woodlands, particularly humid and relatively undisturbed habitats. It is more likely to be encountered on suitable woodland substrates than on dry, heavily disturbed ground.

Its presence can signal undisturbed oceanic woodland with suitable humidity and air quality. A gray, brain-like thallus alone is not enough for identification because several foliose lichens can look superficially similar.