Blue Felt Lichen (Degelia plumbea)
Degelia plumbea – Blue Felt Lichen – recently assessed by COSEWIC for NL as Special Concern. Usually found on boles and large lower branches of old-growth Yellow Birch, but occasionally on mature Trembling Aspen and rarely White Spruce. Can also occur in NF on some mature exotic deciduous trees. A blue-gray foliose lichen with abundant red-brown to almost black fruiting-bodies (apothecia). Can occur as individual small rosette up to 10 centimetres diameter, but may be found as an accumulation of overlapping thalli. Usually found in association with Lobaria pulmonaria and others of that genus. Few known NF locations: Avalon, SW coast, Bay d’Espoir and Terra Nova Park. Restricted to Atlantic Provinces and Maine in North America. Also occurs in Europe and North Africa. Pic #1: Thallus size in individual picture is toonie-sized. Pic #2: Thallus size of overlapping thalli at centre of pic is approx. 10 x 10 cm.
**Photo from Sir Robert Bond Municipal Park, Whitbourne