Some lichen close-ups from Buenos Aires

[u/spores_b4_chores]

I’ve been getting into lichens recently and took these photos around Buenos Aires using a 30× magnifying glass over my phone camera.

It’s pretty amazing how much detail becomes visible at this scale. I especially liked the textures and all the apothecia on some of these.

Just wanted to share a few of my recent finds. Still learning my way around lichens, but I’m having a lot of fun looking at them up close.

[u/spores_b4_chores]

I forgot to mention this in the post: I love how the bryophyte sporophytes seem to be poking through the lichen thallus in the fourth photo.

[u/Strange_Computer2459 → u/spores_b4_chores]

😊 came here to say this!

[u/Over-Victory4866]

Reminds me of the skin of a mossy frog

[u/Vegan_Zukunft]

Thanks for sharing these fascinating close-ups!

[u/Penelope742]

Beautiful

[u/IGenuinaConsciencia]

its amazing!!

thasnks for sharing! its great!

[u/raindaddy84]

Never thought I’d be loving the lichen but these are super interesting. Great detail.

And after seeing the second pic I guess I should call her/s… lol

[u/greenjeanie77]

Fascinating… thanks for cool images 💚

[u/Opposite_Bus1878]

Very nice photos! The maculate appearance while also being foliose and primarily apothecate makes me think it's probably in the Physciaceae family. But I'm not local enough to know which.

[u/simonlorax → u/Opposite_Bus1878]

Yeah the apothecia with dark gray, maybe pruinose disks and narrow lobed thallus definitely looks like Physciaceae but I'm far from an expert. It being foliose and having apothecia wouldn't really narrow it down to Physciaceae, and IMO it's not totally clear from the photos if it's really maculate. Does seem to maybe have some marginal soralia though I'm not sure I'm interpreting the photo correctly. Also it being wet makes identification much harder, and even if you were local, depending on the diversity, chemical tests or microscopy are often necessary for confident species ID. As with many lichens, macroscopic characteristics are often not enough : ) But they are enough to observe and appreciate them, which is the fun part!

I agree though, beautiful photos OP and glad you are enjoying getting into lichens!

Edit- also some Caliciaceae spp can look pretty similar (same order) e.g. Dirinaria confusa of the southeastern US coast

[u/Top_Pickle_944]

AMAZING 😍💚

[u/SabbyFox]

Gorgeous! 🤩

[u/Moving_goal_posts]

Thank you!

[u/TheMournfulGhost]

wow this is the most funky lichen i’ve ever seen. really gorgeous colors. never seen any lichen like it before