Steven Lawson Photography @StevenLawsonPhotography@mastoart.social
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This week I began a 10-week course in identification and, following the maxim that faint heart never won fair lady, I have begun by trying to identify one of the most notoriously difficult lichens, a Cladonia.
This on a Scots pine and has all the characteristics of Cladonia polydactyla. I have some chemical tests and a scaled image to complete but these are a good start (and check out the tiny springtail which was barely visible to the naked eye).

Close up image showing the bright red apothecia and coarse, granular soredia on the podetia of a Cladonia lichenClose-up image showing the squamules and some podetia of a Cladonia lichen with tiny drops of water clinging to the squamules A tiny globular springtail clambers of the squamules of a Cladonia lichenClose up image showing the bright red apothecia and coarse, granular soredia on the podetia of a Cladonia lichen
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