Parmotrema sp. Lichen

Description:

What at first I thought was a liverwort species turned out to be a foliose lichen. Two specimens found at same location, one of which was covered in moss (photos 1-3). Largest specimen about 10 cms in diameter. Dry location, and both were ground-dwelling on a stone and clay base. Greenish grey in colour, and each branch had ruffled ends, the edges of which looked like they were covered in small moss-like hairs. Members of the genus are commonly called ruffle lichens or scatter-rag lichens.

Habitat:

Found along a ridge on the Duck Pond Track in the Brisbane Forest Park at Enoggera Reservoir. Open bushland with native vegetation. Hot, dry, exposed area in full sun. Species known to grow on rocks and trees.

Notes:

This genus/species is known to occur in wetland and mangrove areas in Australia, but even though the Enoggera Reservoir is close by, I cannot see how it could possibly affect this location with any moisture. This spotting was found on an exposed ridge, and the only possible moisture would have to come from rain. Strangely enough, even though this area has sandy soils or hard baked clay, the ground beneath the smaller of the two specimens was moist. And how can moss possibly survive at this location? I'm baffled by this!