Fungi: Ascomycota: Lecanoromycetes: Lecanorales: Ramalinaceae: Ramalina montagnei de Not.
Ramalina montagnei – striped ramalina lichen
Common name: striped ramalina lichen.
AI-generated description
Ramalina montagnei is a species of fruticose lichen characterized by pale greenish-yellow to whitish branches, cylindrical in shape, and typically 1-5 cm long. It has a cartilaginous cortex and contains usnic acid, giving it a distinctive chemical composition. In East and Central Texas, Ramalina montagnei is commonly found on trees, particularly oak and cedar, and rocks, often in shaded to partially shaded areas with moderate to high humidity. Its distribution spans the eastern part of the region, including the Piney Woods and Post Oak Savannah ecoregions.
Tuft of striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on an oak branch in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 20, 2019 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on a small elm tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 8, 2019 Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Slender orange bush lichen (Teloschistes exilis) and striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on a small elm tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 8, 2019 Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Tuft of striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) growing on thorns of black locust in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 13, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on a thorn of black locust in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 13, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on a tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 13, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Striped ramalina lichen (Ramalina montagnei) on a living tree in a forest in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, January 19, 2020 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of Ramalina montagnei in East and Central Texas reveal its presence on various substrates. The lichen was found growing on oak branches, small elm trees, and black locust thorns in Lick Creek Park and Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. It was also observed on a living tree in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. In some cases, Ramalina montagnei co-occurred with other lichen species, such as Teloschistes exilis. The lichen formed tufts on its substrates, and its growth was noted on both thorns and tree trunks. These observations were made over a period of several months, from February 2019 to January 2020, in different locations across East and Central Texas. The lichen's ability to thrive on diverse surfaces suggests its adaptability to various environments.