Lawrence Weston Moor and Blaise Castle

These two locations were visited on 14th July as they were both close to each other. First stop was Lawrence Weston Moor. It took some time to find some lichen but eventually added some 25 species to the list. First of interest was Melanelixia subaurifera. This species is similar to Melanelixia fuliginosa which needs examination of the isidia to tell them apart.
On the same tree was also saw a Parmelia. This group can be told by having white lines on the upper surface cracks of the thallus. On this occasion the Parmelia turned out to be sulcata.
Next was a lichen that looked at first glance like a Ramalina but examing the underside we could see it was a different colour looking more white which made it Evernia prunastri.
Just before leaving we met up with Mark Kitchen who had some plant specimens. I noticed a beetle on the Rumex which I later identified as Perapion curtirostre. Having the host plant was a useful ID feature in this case.
Later we went to Blaise Castle and walked parallel to a stream picking up some interesting lichens. Some are still to be determined but others could be named on site such as Pertusaria albescens which had a very distinctive prothallus. Caloplaca cerina was a nice find on the top side of a gate.
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Caloplaca cerina

Pertusaria albescens

Punctelia jeckeri showing the pruinose lobes

Melanelixia subaurifera

Xanthoria elegans