Image of Black stone flower

Description:

Synonymy: Parmotrema chinense (Osbeck) Hale & Ahti, Imbricaria perlata (Huds.) Krb., Parmelia ciliata (DC.) Nyl., Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach., Parmotrema trichotera (Hue) M. Choisy, Platysma perlatum (Huds.) Frege, - Habitat: dense macchia next to a dirt path; slightly inclined terrain, west aspect; sunny, warm, dry place; calcareous ground; partly protected from direct rain by canopies; average precipitations ~ 900-1000 mm/year, average temperature 13-15 deg C, elevations 100 m (340 feet), sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical region. Substratum: Dead Fraxinus ornus branch. Comment: Parmotrema perlatum is a common lichen on island Krk. It prefers branches of Quercus sp. trees; however, the specimen photographed was found on Fraxinus ornus branches and twigs. It is a sensitive species to pollution hence it is much rarer in populated regions of industrialized countries and already regionally extinct in some parts of Europe. Its lobes are thin, very wavy, with abundant soralia and scarce black cilia at the margins. Underside is black with simple rhizines in the center and tan-colored and bare at margins. Apothecia are generally considered very rare; however, this was not the case for this observation. The species has been traditionally used for medical purposes in India as a diuretic and headache relief. It has proven sedative and antibiotic effects (Ref.5). Many specimens have been observed at the place of this observation. Pictures show the lichen in moist state (except picture 1. in dry state). Ref.: (1) F.S. Dobson, Lichens, The Richmonds Publishing Ca.LTD (2005), p 310. (2) V. Wirth, Die Flechten Baden-Wrttembergs, Teil.2., Ulmer (1995), p 678. (3) http://dryades.units.it/italic/index.php?procedure=taxonpage&num=1599 (accessed May 19. 2018) (4) C.W.Smith, et all, The lichens of Great Britain and Ireland,The British Lichen Society,(2009), p 662. (5) I.M. Brodo, S.D. Sharnoff, S.Sharnoff, Lichens of North America, Yale Uni. Press (2001), p 493.