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coral jelly lichen

Scientific Name: Collema tenax var. corallinum

Family: Collemataceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Collema tenax var. corallinum

  • Common Name(s): Coral jelly lichen

Collema tenax var. corallinum, commonly known as coral jelly lichen, is a fascinating lichen belonging to the genus Collema.

Considerations for Pets

  • This lichen has a jelly-like thallus when wet that shrinks when dry.
  • The texture and appearance of the lichen may be of interest to pets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Collema tenax (Sw.) Ach. var. corallinum (A. Massal.) Degel.
  • Rank: Variety
  • Family: Collemataceae
  • Synonyms: The text also mentions Collema conglomeratum and Collema tenax corallinum.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Leafy lichens with a jelly-like thallus when wet.
  • Shrinks and becomes very narrow and finger-like when dry, or minutely branched like tiny fragments of coral.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found in Ireland and Britain.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Lichens are a symbiotic relationship involving algae.

Quirky Facts

  • Some scientists use the diameter of lichen thalli growing on rock faces to measure the age of the rocks.
  • The text references a graveyard where 35 different species of lichen grow on its walls.