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Conglomerate Jelly Lichen (Collema conglomeratum)

The Conglomerate Jelly Lichen, scientifically known as Collema conglomeratum, is a fascinating lichen species belonging to the family Collemataceae.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Collema conglomeratum Hoffm.
• Family: Collemataceae
• Group: Lichen
• Synonyms:
  • Collema cyrtaspis Tuck.
  • Collema pycnocarpum Nyl.
  • Gabura conglomerata
• Symbol: COCO26
• Other Collema species: Collema auriforme, Collema bachmanianum, Collema crispum, Collema dichotomum, Collema coniophilum
• Varieties: Collema conglomeratum var. crassiusculum

Common Names

• Conglomerate Jelly Lichen
• Jelly Lichen (generic for Collema species)
• River Jelly Lichen (specifically for Collema dichotomum)

Distribution and Habitat

• This lichen commonly grows on basic to neutral rock, often with a rough texture, including sandstones and conglomerates.
• It prefers silica-rich submerged rocks, such as sandstone or volcanic rocks, and has rarely been recorded on limestone.

Morphological Characteristics

• River Jelly Lichen (Collema dichotomum) is noted as being small, typically 1-2 cm, with finger-like lobes.
• Jelly lichens, in general, are described as having a dark blue-green or blue-gray layer, appearing almost black and jelly-like when wet.

Ecological Role

• Lichens can contribute to the weathering of rocks by producing weak acids that dissolve the substrate, especially on calcareous (limestone) rocks.
• The photobiont, the component that performs photosynthesis, is the cyanobacterium genus Nostoc.

Quirky Facts

• The texture is said to be jelly-like, which explains the common name!

Further Information

• Dave's Garden
• LIAS (presumably, based on the reference to "Recent Literature on Lichens")
• AusFungi