About:
A foliose lichen with grey-green lobes and rarely with reproductive structures, growing up to 15 cm wide.
Habitat:
This lichen is found in the Eastern United States, particularly in the Southeast, but has also been documented in Eastern Canada. It can be found on bark and sometimes on rocks, particularly in open habitats.
History:
First described by Mason E. Hale in 1974.
Structure:
Parmotrema hypotropum is typically green/green-grey on the upper surface and white lower surface. The edges of the lobes of the lower surface can be discolored, but a majority should be white. Found both with and without cilia on the outer edges of the lobes of the lichen. This lichen can have rhizines but they are usually very sparse.
Overall, this foliose lichen is loosely to moderately attached to the surface it resides on, often attached firmly in the center of its structure.
Fun Fact!
-The genus Parmotrema is also known as the ruffle lichens, due to their lobes having lifted edges, similar to ruffles on fabric.
Reference List:
-Parmotrema hypotropum. Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. [accessed 2020 May 4]. https://lichenportal.org/cnalh/taxa/index.php?taxon=54552&clid=1192
-Parmotrema hypotropum. Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. CNALH - Google Map. [accessed 2020 May 4]. https://lichenportal.org/cnalh/collections/map/googlemap.php?usethes=1&taxa=54552
-Parmotrema hypotropum. MycoBank. [accessed 2020 May 4]. http://www.mycobank.org/BioloMICS.aspx?TableKey=14682616000000067&Rec=298731&Fields=All