Overview
Dark brownish-black and somewhat erect, Scytinium palmatum is a many-lobed gelatinous lichen with inrolled and pointed margins that give it an antler-like profile. The surface is sharply wrinkled, and raised brown apothecia are common.
Growing on soil, rock, moss over rock or bark, and mossy tree trunks, it is one of the more structurally complex gelatinous lichens, its erect, branching lobes rising above the substrate rather than lying flat.
Identification
- Dark brownish-black, erect, with antler-like branching lobes.
- Margins are inrolled and pointed.
- Surface is sharply wrinkled (rugose).
- Brown apothecia are common on the upper surface.
- Formerly placed in Leptogium before molecular studies separated it.
Ecology & Habitat
Found in a variety of moist habitats from mossy rock to tree trunks. Like all gelatinous lichens, it fixes nitrogen through its cyanobacterial partner. Its erect growth form may help it compete for light in moss-rich environments.
Fun Facts
This species was recently moved from Leptogium to the resurrected genus Scytinium based on molecular DNA evidence , a reminder that lichen taxonomy is still being revolutionized by genetics.
The name "palmatum" means "palm-shaped" , though its branching lobes look more like antlers than palms to most observers.
Its erect growth habit is unusual among gelatinous lichens, which are typically flat. The upright lobes may help capture light in the low-light environments where it grows.
The sharp wrinkles on its surface increase its surface area dramatically, allowing for more efficient gas exchange and photosynthesis.
Distribution
Widespread in temperate regions of North America and Europe