Sue
@sueinscotland.bsky.social
Lichens, botany, gardening, anything that sparks my curiosity
A London-based landowner is putting the iconic Glenelg to Skye ferry at risk. Support the local community - not millionaire financiers - and save the world famous Glenelg to Skye ferry by joining me and signing the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save the Glenelg - Skye ferry!
This ten minute crossing is famous around the world - and is believed to be the last turntable style ferry anywhere. It's an iconic part of Skye's history, but it's under threat thanks to a wealthy la...
you.38degrees.org.uk
August 23, 2026 at 10:58 AM
A London-based landowner is putting the iconic Glenelg to Skye ferry at risk. Support the local community - not millionaire financiers - and save the world famous Glenelg to Skye ferry by joining me and signing the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Microsoft planning to build three massive AI data centres in Leeds. It’ll drain thousands of litres of water from the River Aire and become the city's biggest carbon emitter. We can still stop the council's final sign-off, but we need more voices. Add your name: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
Stop the Microsoft AI megasite in Leeds!
Microsoft wants to build three huge AI data centres at Skelton Grange. It would drain the River Aire and become the city's biggest carbon emitter. We can still stop it - add your name to the petition.
you.38degrees.org.uk
July 20, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Microsoft planning to build three massive AI data centres in Leeds. It’ll drain thousands of litres of water from the River Aire and become the city's biggest carbon emitter. We can still stop the council's final sign-off, but we need more voices. Add your name: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
While looking at Centaurea montana in my garden, I was puzzled to see clusters of flies(Diptera) on the receptacle and phyllaries under the dead flower heads. Unlike the bees which went for the open flowers. On some their proboscis was out and going along the edges of the phyllaries...1/2
June 28, 2026 at 5:47 PM
While looking at Centaurea montana in my garden, I was puzzled to see clusters of flies(Diptera) on the receptacle and phyllaries under the dead flower heads. Unlike the bees which went for the open flowers. On some their proboscis was out and going along the edges of the phyllaries...1/2
Reposted by Sue
A remarkable compound from forest lichens, gyrophoric acid, blocks harmful amyloid-beta clump formation and rapidly breaks down existing aggregates—key drivers of Alzheimer’s brain damage.
scft.link/oYdBU
scft.link/oYdBU
Forest Organism Holds Secret to Slowing Alzheimer’s Damage | Science Featured Series
Bringing attention to one of the most challenging brain diseases today, Alzheimer’s continues to affect millions of people worldwide with memory loss, confu ...
scft.link
February 26, 2026 at 8:54 PM
A remarkable compound from forest lichens, gyrophoric acid, blocks harmful amyloid-beta clump formation and rapidly breaks down existing aggregates—key drivers of Alzheimer’s brain damage.
scft.link/oYdBU
scft.link/oYdBU
Reposted by Sue
There are 110 other posts in the vicinity and I took a closer look at about 40 of them. The original one I noticed still happened to be the best in my opinion, in terms of "terrain" and diversity.
October 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
There are 110 other posts in the vicinity and I took a closer look at about 40 of them. The original one I noticed still happened to be the best in my opinion, in terms of "terrain" and diversity.
Reposted by Sue
This is wonderful. I'd give my right arm to have had such an opportunity in the past. Share far and wide please. #lichengbi #lichen #lichens
An opportunity of a lifetime for budding lichenologists. The National Trust and the Royal Botanics, Edinburgh are offering a PAID lichen traineeship in #Scotland! The work programme looks fascinating and a great opportunity to develop skills. Deadline: 3/10/2025. www.asva.co.uk/jobs/trainee...
September 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is wonderful. I'd give my right arm to have had such an opportunity in the past. Share far and wide please. #lichengbi #lichen #lichens
Reposted by Sue
Today i noticed a thallus of Hypogymnia with yellow patches.I presumed a fungal attack, however a friend has suggested Usnic acid leachate 🤔🤔
September 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Today i noticed a thallus of Hypogymnia with yellow patches.I presumed a fungal attack, however a friend has suggested Usnic acid leachate 🤔🤔
Found a big stand of Hybrid Woundwort (Stachys x ambigua) which is a cross between Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and Marsh Woundwort (Stachys palustris). Later in the walk I found the 2 parents. Comparison photos show all 3, L to R: Marsh, Hybrid, Hedge.
July 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Found a big stand of Hybrid Woundwort (Stachys x ambigua) which is a cross between Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) and Marsh Woundwort (Stachys palustris). Later in the walk I found the 2 parents. Comparison photos show all 3, L to R: Marsh, Hybrid, Hedge.
More from the garden fence. Another light brown crustose thallus but with a few apothecia. Puzzled over this one as not many spores. It keyed out as Lecanora conizaeoides which used to be really common in UK but is now much rarer according to Dobson. ID confirmed by Brian Coppins. #lichenGBI 1/2
June 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
More from the garden fence. Another light brown crustose thallus but with a few apothecia. Puzzled over this one as not many spores. It keyed out as Lecanora conizaeoides which used to be really common in UK but is now much rarer according to Dobson. ID confirmed by Brian Coppins. #lichenGBI 1/2
We recently removed some of an old (pine) fence and as well as gaining some firewood, I acquired plenty of lichen samples to play with. So far, I have identified 2 of the crustose ones. First up is Hypocenomyce scalaris. No apothecia on my sample but unmistakeable C+red reaction #lichensGBI 1/2
June 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
We recently removed some of an old (pine) fence and as well as gaining some firewood, I acquired plenty of lichen samples to play with. So far, I have identified 2 of the crustose ones. First up is Hypocenomyce scalaris. No apothecia on my sample but unmistakeable C+red reaction #lichensGBI 1/2
A visit to Beachen (say Bee - ach - en) Wood in Grantown-on Spey (NJ0228, vc75) surprised me with lichens I associate more with the West Coast and wetter weather. Here is Degelia plumbea (now Pectinea plumbea) #lichengbi 1/2
June 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
A visit to Beachen (say Bee - ach - en) Wood in Grantown-on Spey (NJ0228, vc75) surprised me with lichens I associate more with the West Coast and wetter weather. Here is Degelia plumbea (now Pectinea plumbea) #lichengbi 1/2
Phaeophyscia orbicularis #lichenGBI. The first time I found this I struggled to get to an ID as it was not orbicular at all, just a series of amalgamated thalli. This will be a longish thread but shows how these don't always look like their pictures in the books! 1/3 (I think!)
April 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Phaeophyscia orbicularis #lichenGBI. The first time I found this I struggled to get to an ID as it was not orbicular at all, just a series of amalgamated thalli. This will be a longish thread but shows how these don't always look like their pictures in the books! 1/3 (I think!)
An easily recognisable #lichenGBI because of its big black apothecia - Porpidia macrocarpa. Found in Grantown-on-Spey, Moray, Scotland, vc 95 on a sandstone garden wall. I had not realised that there are 2 forms. My sample turned out to be P. macrocarpa f. nigrocruenta (exciple K+ crimson)
April 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
An easily recognisable #lichenGBI because of its big black apothecia - Porpidia macrocarpa. Found in Grantown-on-Spey, Moray, Scotland, vc 95 on a sandstone garden wall. I had not realised that there are 2 forms. My sample turned out to be P. macrocarpa f. nigrocruenta (exciple K+ crimson)
Bloody Heart Lichen #LichenGBI aka Mycoblastus sanguinarius found on a dead pine branch at Glenmore, Inverness-shire, vc96. So called for the red colouration under the apothecia (so I would have identified this sooner if I had scratched of an apothecium) 1/2
April 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Bloody Heart Lichen #LichenGBI aka Mycoblastus sanguinarius found on a dead pine branch at Glenmore, Inverness-shire, vc96. So called for the red colouration under the apothecia (so I would have identified this sooner if I had scratched of an apothecium) 1/2
#lichenGBI. Another lichen with perithecia on the same branch as Porina aenea. Struggled with getting an ID for this one and at first went for Anisomeridium ranunculosporum but the ascus size and shape was wrong and eventually got to Arthopyrenia analepta. Thread 1/2
March 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
#lichenGBI. Another lichen with perithecia on the same branch as Porina aenea. Struggled with getting an ID for this one and at first went for Anisomeridium ranunculosporum but the ascus size and shape was wrong and eventually got to Arthopyrenia analepta. Thread 1/2
The Dobson Field Keys are now available as FREE downloads from the #BritishLichenSociety web page. There are 3 to download along with update files with the new names and some comments. Go to “The Society” tab and pick BLS Shop. Photos not there yet but plans afoot to sort that. #lichensGBI
March 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The Dobson Field Keys are now available as FREE downloads from the #BritishLichenSociety web page. There are 3 to download along with update files with the new names and some comments. Go to “The Society” tab and pick BLS Shop. Photos not there yet but plans afoot to sort that. #lichensGBI
Little yellow lichens seem to be on topic at the moment, so here is Polycauliona ucrainica, found on the same branch as P. polycarpa in my previous post. In my garden, on a bird cherry branch. Some care needed to separate it from P. candelaria. @geoffrey311.bsky.social #lichensGBI 1/3
March 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Little yellow lichens seem to be on topic at the moment, so here is Polycauliona ucrainica, found on the same branch as P. polycarpa in my previous post. In my garden, on a bird cherry branch. Some care needed to separate it from P. candelaria. @geoffrey311.bsky.social #lichensGBI 1/3
@peterbraubach.bsky.social have been following similar lichen trajectories: Polycauliona polycarpa in this thread and some perithecia investigations which I'll post later. I had ignored tiny yellow thalli assuming they were Xanthoria parietina .. but I was wrong. A detailed thread. #lichensGBI 1/3
March 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM
@peterbraubach.bsky.social have been following similar lichen trajectories: Polycauliona polycarpa in this thread and some perithecia investigations which I'll post later. I had ignored tiny yellow thalli assuming they were Xanthoria parietina .. but I was wrong. A detailed thread. #lichensGBI 1/3
#lichenGBI Chaenotheca ferruginea NN7299, vc96, East-Inverness-shire. This was my first find of a pinhead lichen near home. I must have walked past it hundreds of times in my pre-lichen days. If I had walked round at night with a UV torch it would have shouted look at me as it fluoresces. 1/2
February 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
#lichenGBI Chaenotheca ferruginea NN7299, vc96, East-Inverness-shire. This was my first find of a pinhead lichen near home. I must have walked past it hundreds of times in my pre-lichen days. If I had walked round at night with a UV torch it would have shouted look at me as it fluoresces. 1/2
#LichensGBI Another little brown bushy lichen, mainly found in Northern Scotland, Cornicularia normoerica. Unmistakeable once you have seen it, and no microscopy needed. It's the only species in Cornicularia. (Who were Norman and Eric??) 1/2
February 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
#LichensGBI Another little brown bushy lichen, mainly found in Northern Scotland, Cornicularia normoerica. Unmistakeable once you have seen it, and no microscopy needed. It's the only species in Cornicularia. (Who were Norman and Eric??) 1/2
#lichensGBI Time for a lichen post after a Christmas/New Year break. This one is a local speciality of the Cairngorms, in Scotland, and is a favourite of mine, Cetraria sepincola. No need to go high to find it, as it is in my village (250m above sea level). And no microscopy needed for ID! 1/2
January 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
#lichensGBI Time for a lichen post after a Christmas/New Year break. This one is a local speciality of the Cairngorms, in Scotland, and is a favourite of mine, Cetraria sepincola. No need to go high to find it, as it is in my village (250m above sea level). And no microscopy needed for ID! 1/2
Reposted by Sue
"Slime mold" is a popular political insult but slime molds are actually the smartest and safest molds, & in some ways smarter and safer than politicians. I definitely would not eat a US senator for example, nor would I expect them to do complex pathfinding calculations for me
January 18, 2025 at 4:42 AM
"Slime mold" is a popular political insult but slime molds are actually the smartest and safest molds, & in some ways smarter and safer than politicians. I definitely would not eat a US senator for example, nor would I expect them to do complex pathfinding calculations for me
In the deep south just now and not many lichens about but I did find this #fungus growing on moss in the lawn. Sunbury, Middlesex, UK. Any ideas? @ilichenmoss2.bsky.social
January 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM
In the deep south just now and not many lichens about but I did find this #fungus growing on moss in the lawn. Sunbury, Middlesex, UK. Any ideas? @ilichenmoss2.bsky.social
After recent conversations about Amandinea punctata and Fuscidea lightfootii @peterbraubach.bsky.social @larkinlichen.bsky.social Here's a thread on F. lightfootii, though at the time I was more concerned to show the difference between it and Lecidella elaeochroma NN7298, Inverness-shire 1/5
December 16, 2024 at 11:55 AM
After recent conversations about Amandinea punctata and Fuscidea lightfootii @peterbraubach.bsky.social @larkinlichen.bsky.social Here's a thread on F. lightfootii, though at the time I was more concerned to show the difference between it and Lecidella elaeochroma NN7298, Inverness-shire 1/5