Fan Ramalina

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

NNR - Unranked
SNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

Fan Ramalina is small, common and widespread, bushy lichen. It occurs around the globe in the Northern Hemisphere and in the temperate regions in the Southern Hemisphere. It is common in Minnesota. It is found on the bark of trees and shrubs, usually on twigs and branches, but also on the trunk. It uses the tree for support rather than food. It gets moisture from the air and rain, and nutrients from organic debris that accumulates around it (epiphytic).

The vegetative body (thallus) is greenish or yellowish green, flattened, thin, and palm shaped or fan shaped. It can be up to 2″ (5 cm) long and up to 1¼″ (3 cm) wide, but it is usually smaller. It may be erect or hanging, undivided or with a few palmate branches. It is attached to the substrate by a central, peg-like cord (holdfast). The upper surface is wrinkled with elevated, tough, cartilaginous strands forming longitudinal or net-like (reticulate) ridges. These tough strands act as a support frame, allowing the thallus to maintain its shape even when wet. Neither soredia nor isidia (common reproductive structures) are produced. The lower surface is paler and has minute, white, cortex-free patches or openings (pseudocyphella) scattered between the ridges, especially near the base.

Disk-like, spore-producing structures (apothecia) are typically abundant, both on the surface and near the margins. The disks are pale green, flat to convex, and ⅛″ to ⅜″ (3 to 10 mm) in diameter. The margins are the same color as the disk.

Similar Species

Substrate

Bark

Growth Form

Fruticose

Habitat

Hosts