Flavoparmelia caperata (Common greenshield)

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Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale

Common greenshield, flavoparmelia lichen

Here in Massachusetts, I see more of these lichens than any others. I haven’t found a range map yet, but as nearly as I can tell, they occur worldwide.

Identification: This widespread lichen grows in circular patches on tree bark, and sometimes on rock. It is a pale yellow green color on top, and black below (pale brown on the edges). It is foliose (leaflike), with rounded, overlapping lobes. The apothecia (fruiting bodies) are goblet-shaped, and up to about ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter, but they are not present very often.

Online References:

Discover Life

CalPhotos at the University of California, Berkeley

The Stridvall Family Domain

Wikispecies

References:

Walewski, Joe, Lichens of the North Woods, Kollath+Stensaas Publishing, 2007, p. 107

Parmelia caperata (L.) Ach.
Parmelia cylisphora (Ach.) Vain.
Parmelia flavicans (Tuck.) Tuck.
Parmelia herreana Zahlbr.
Parmelia negativa Gyel.
Pseudoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale

4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain

3/17/2016 · Kibby’s Climb, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 12 cm)

9/5/2009 · Orange Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 7″ (22 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)

6/26/2014 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

3/17/2016 · Kibby’s Climb, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 5″ (15 × 12 cm)

4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain

8/14/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

5/14/2010 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

6/26/2014 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

4/10/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) ID is uncertain

5/12/2007 · Pepperell, Massachusetts

Parents	Unknown	Genus is not in the current taxonomy
Genus	Flavoparmelia
Species	caperata	Wrinkled

About plant names...

Flavoparmelia caperata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.