How to Start Lichen ID

Where I can, I've been trying to add at least a genus to lichen photos I encounter here on iNat. Other people, with more knowledge, are also helpful at generic and even species levels. But where do you start as a novice, especially if you have no keys? With 85% of my books, including lichen ID materials, still in storage (long story), I'm thrown on the resources of the internet. Here are a few suggestions for exploring lichen basics:

Here is an online lichen key from the UK for 60 British lichens on twigs: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/plants-fungi/lichen-id-guide (from the Natural History Museum at South Kensington); they also have a glossary of terms. To get started, click on fruticose, foliose, or crustose. You eventually get to a color photo of the lichen. If you get one or more results, don't assume the species is right, but it might at least point you to a genus to check out. (I got a lot of "no results" on my searches, but I was just making up characters.)

You might try checking photos at https://www.waysofenlichenment.net/lichens/, which does a good job of showing many species in each genus.

Steve Sharnoff has some lichen basics at http://www.sharnoffphotos.com/lichen_info/biology.html. Photos available at http://www.sharnoffphotos.com/lichens/lichens_home_index.html may also be helpful, but this site is focused on North America.

If you narrow it down to a few species, you can check whether they occur in your area at http://lichenportal.org/portal/collections/harvestparams.php, a database maintained by the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH). Their records include specimens from all over the world. If you go to http://lichenportal.org/portal/checklists/dynamicmap.php?interface=key and click on your area (specify a radius to search), they will generate a checklist that you can also use as an interactive key. Very nice!!

Only the lichen portal at CNALH will give you a detailed description of important characters, but at least the others provide visual references.

Posted on January 29, 2019 08:18 PM by slwhiteco