Leptogium cochleatum

When moist the paper-thin lobes of this cyanobacteria-containing foliose lichen resemble leaf gelatine. It shrinks little when dry. The individual lobes are shiny, lead-grey in colour and concave with their margins ascending creating an ear-like shape about 1cm across. Both the upper and lower surfaces are smooth and lack any fuzzy tomentum. There are no isidia and apothecia are frequent. This combination of characters distinguishes this species.

Photo: Alan Orange