description Parmelia sulcata Overview
Parmelia sulcata is a foliose lichen commonly known as the hammered shield lichen. It forms grey to grey-green lobes with a ridged or wrinkled surface and powdery soralia that produce vegetative propagules. The species grows on tree bark and stone and has a broad distribution across temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including urban environments.
help Parmelia sulcata FAQ
How can I identify Parmelia sulcata in the field?
Look for a grey to grey-green foliose thallus with wrinkled or ridged lobes and powdery soralia. Its common name is hammered shield lichen, and the soralia produce soredia for vegetative reproduction.
Where does hammered shield lichen usually grow?
Parmelia sulcata commonly grows on tree bark and stone, including exposed trunks and rock surfaces. It has a broad distribution and can occur in both urban and natural habitats.
Is Parmelia sulcata a moss or a plant?
It is a foliose lichen, not a moss or vascular plant. The organism is a partnership between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, with the fungal body forming the visible lobed thallus.
What are the powdery patches on Parmelia sulcata?
Those patches are soralia, specialized areas that release soredia. Each soredium contains fungal tissue associated with a photosynthetic partner, allowing the lichen to spread without producing a new sexual structure.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
