Ramalina calicaris (L.) Fr.

    Thallus tufted, to 10 cm tall, erect then pendent, stiff, branches strap-shaped, little ramified, 2-5 mm wide, typically excavate and gutter-shaped in the centre owing to margin folds, grey-greenish, surface smooth with punctiform pseudocyphellia. Apothecia usually scarce, bud-shaped, mainly terminal, pale pink-ochre. Ascospores broadly ellipsoid, straight, 1-septate, 10-16 x 5-7 µm. Photobiont: Trebouxioid. Medulla : C-, K-, KC-, Pd-. UV-. Rather uncommon and localized, on bush twigs and lower branches of small deciduous trees near the seashore together with other common and not especially maritime Ramalina species, notably Ramalina fraxinea of which straps may be larger, caniculate when dry but with marginal apothecia arranged in different rows and cup-shaped at first, and with Ramalina fastigiata of which the apothecia are terminal.

N.B. This species seems to be under decline in our prospection area as in other regions as stated in the literature. This issue might be considered cautiously since it could well be unserstated due to its trend to grow among other Ramalina species.

N.B. Not to be confused with Ramalina fraxinea var. calicariformis which is a very similar taxon and often cannot be distinguished unless ascopores analyses are performed. The latter has curved and kidney-shaped ascospores.*