I found a technique to make reasonably good drawings, initially of microscopic features, but it works for anything that can be shown on a laptop screen. There are however some advantages to drawing freehand... Thread.

West and East facing sides of the limestone gravestone to Mercy Ann Smith, died 1911. The latest stone to be scrutinised in detail. 24 lichen spp. present, over a third of which would have been unrecognised or likely misinterpreted at the start of this century. Thread

Catillaria chalybeia in section. Some individuals lack the dark green pigment and then they may be confused with the var. chloropoliza which is a different sort of thing occurring in more specialised habitat.

During my early microscope investigations, I noticed two features of C. chalybeia not mentioned in the books. The rounded hyphae of the hypothecium are somewhat distinctive. At the time I first saw the pale patches on the photobiont cells, I had no idea they were haustoria.

An amenity sycamore tree with abundant Physcia adscendens and Xanthoria parietina. Hardly worth looking at? Well, it supports some nice examples of a lichen described as new to science in 1999. A thread about Lecanora compallens.

Lecanora compallens, close up of edges, the first showing a typical narrow zone of minute thalline warts. The second image shows an edge where soredia extend to the margin, obscuring any thalline warts.

Fuscidea lightfootii, the first image showing two different morphs and the second demonstrating the intense white fluorescence of the medulla. Why do I post about F. lightfootii today? Thread.

William Borrer's description of the thallus of Catillaria chalybeia, written in the 1830s, captures its appearance better perhaps than any other account that I have seen.

My favourite type of 'art' is an annotated drawing (even if just a rough sketch), a pleasing visual summary of someone’s careful observations.

A thread about the lichenicolous fungus Laetisaria lichenicola, including the surprising way it was added to the British list in 2015 and hints about identifying/recording it.

#地衣類 everyday 地衣類観察に用いるルーペは10~15倍程度がよい。正しい使い方は、①ルーペを眼の近くに固定し自分が対象物に近づいて観察。②眼の負担軽減のために両眼をあけて観察。【ライケン13(1)参照】

I recommend practising the K/UV reactions before using them to aid identification. L. elaeochroma (K/UV+ pale green when wet) on the left. L. hybocarpa (K/UV+ yellow developing as the spot dries) on the right. Thread

The Lichen Flora of Great Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands Rev. W. A. Leighton (1879) C and K were already in use at this stage. Many of Leighton's comments still seem apposite today. Thread

The lichen Solenopsora candicans, been looking for this for a while in churchyards around Sussex with no luck then there it is, loads of it on a wall near a bus stop on the sea front in Brighton - must have walked past it hundreds of times over the years #lichen

Walking Natural England - Sussex and Kent Team Castle Hill NNR, Brighton. 2nd Hawthorn: baby Golden Eye, Teloschistes chrysopthalmus. If you live in Sussex look hard at Hawthorns. Hard to spot amongst Xanthoria parietina; typically 10cm from the end of twigs - there must be 100s here. The British Lichen Society

I still have vivid memories of the 1999 solar eclipse, undoubtedly the most spectacular one that I will ever witness.

Various lichens which used to be largely restricted to 'old woodland' have recently spread into the wider landscape. Normandina pulchella and Strigula taylorii are just two that spring to mind. Perhaps C. luteum is starting to behave in the same way?

Lecanora hybocarpa auct br from same High Force oak as Glaucomaria carpinea below. (Note small G carpinea thallus on left.) L hybocarpa auct br is probably England’s most widespread L subfusca-group #lichen, but it has few records in this area. Thread. /1 x.com/specanatura/st…

Lecidella elaeochroma contains arthothelin, a xanthone that gives a characteristic UV+ orange reaction. This can be weak, and sometimes easier to observe as a K/UV+(wet) mint-green reaction. My lichen shown in (shaded) visible light, in UV light, and with K-test in UV-light. /2x

Non-existence is the only thing I really crave, and I manage my impatience, believing that my craving will be fulfilled.