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Project Noah Nature School
Pyrenula cruenta
A bright chrimson red crustose lichen - if this lichen isn't used for pigment then it should be. It stands out in a forest making it easy to find. I found several examples of it on a variety of tree species. Pyrenula cruenta has a fruiting body called perethecia. With most perethecial lichens (P. cruenta included), the spore producing mechanism is contained inside a cavity which has a tiny opening to the outside called an ostiole. When mature spores will be ejected through this opening.
Spotted along the Backcountry Trail of the Gulf State Park.
Spotted on Jan 20, 2019
Submitted on Feb 3, 2019
3 Comments
Intense.
Ha ha Sukanya! Your so funny! Thank you for your kind words! Lichens fascinate me to no end. One of the great things about lichens is they grow just about everywhere and of course I make it a point to find at least one new lichen every time I go exploring, especially new habitats that I might not be familiar with. I still have a few more that I'm working on from my recent trip.
Like a cascade of blood...WHERE are you finding such beautiful lichens?!