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jelly lichen

Scientific Name: Collema furfuraceum

Family: Collemataceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

River Jelly Lichen: A Unique Symbiotic Organism

The River Jelly Lichen, also referred to as Jelly Lichen, represents a fascinating example of symbiosis. This article explores its characteristics, distribution, and ecological significance.

Considerations for Pets

  • The thallus (lichen body) is gelatinous when wet, which might be interesting for pets.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Collema dichotomum (With.) Coppins &amp J.R. Laundon
  • Common Name: River Jelly Lichen

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Kingdom: Not explicitly stated but implied to be Fungi (based on Tar Jelly Lichen information).
  • Family: Collemataceae (commonly known as Jelly Lichen family).
  • Order: Lecanorales (based on Tar Jelly Lichen information).
  • Synonyms: C. ohioense (for COLLEMA CONGLOMERATUM Hoffm., Dotted Jelly Lichen)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found on submerged rocks and boulders in fast-flowing rivers.
  • Specific locations include Northumberland, Wales (mentioned in the "Local Biodiversity Action Plan"), and the River Exe (UK).

Morphological Characteristics

  • The thallus (lichen body) forms flattened or erect, bright to dark green rosettes.
  • Lobes are convex and finger-like, measuring one to two centimeters long.
  • When wet, the thallus becomes gelatinous.
  • Thallus foliose, to 2(4) cm broad, black, gelatinous when wet, with broadly rounded lobes isidia and soredia lacking spores 4-septate, hyaline, 20-40 by 3-4.5

Ecology

  • Grows on the bark of trees such as bigleaf maples, in wetter coastal parts of.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The photobiont (the photosynthetic partner in the lichen symbiosis) is the cyanobacterium genus Nostoc.
  • The text notes a need to "ensure canoe access does not adversely affect salmonid populations, river jelly lichen".

Quirky Facts

  • The River Jelly Lichen looks more like seaweed than a lichen (Collema dichotomum).

Further Information

  • ARKive (mentioned for photos and facts).
  • Encyclopedia of Life (mentioned for articles and brief summaries).
  • APHOTOFUNGI and APHOTOMARINE (photographic stock libraries).
  • Australian Plant Names Index (for Collema coccophorum).