Hypogymnia bitteriPowdered tube lichen, bitter tube lichenI’m not going to pretend I don’t occasiona

Hypogymnia bitteriPowdered tube lichen, bitter tube lichenI’m not going to pretend I don’t occasionally taste lichens. Because yeah, I do, ok? Just yesterday my partner *may* have caught me licking a random tree in the park in an attempt to ID a Pertusaria lichen. But I have yet to taste a Hypogymnia, but as soon as I find H. bitteri, I’m gonna give it a lil lick. Just to be sure that it is actually bitter. This foliose lichen, like other members of it’s genus, has inflated, hollow lobes. The upper surface is wrinkled and mottled in coloration between coppery brown and grayish-green, whereas the lower surface is black. H. bitteri mainly colonizes the bark of conifers in montane and subalpine habitats. It has been found at high elevations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. This lichen produces a number of secondary metabolites which probably contribute to its bitterness–likely a defense against herbivory! So no nibbling! I don’t want to be responsible if one of y’all decides to eat some and ends up with a sour stomach–or worse. Just small licks, please. images: source | source | sourceinfo: source -- source link

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