26 December, 2019
New lichen find near nature reserve
A beautiful and unusual club-like lichen has been discovered for the first time in Britain.
The find of Multiclavula corynoides – sometimes referred to as Club-wielding Crust Lichen – was made by SNH lichen expert David Genney while out mountain biking around Ben Wyvis National Nature Reserve (NNR) in the Highlands of Scotland.
The lichen occurs across Scandinavia, in Iceland and in northern North America but this is the first record of the species in Britain.
Most lichens are composed of a cup-fungus and an alga with distinctive circular jam-tart fruit but this species is different because it forms tiny club-shaped ‘fruits’ which emerge from a mat of algae and fungal threads.
It was discovered on the verge of a gravel forest road at the base of Ben Wyvis NNR, the slopes of which are home to a fantastic range of plants, mosses, liverworts and lichens.
David said: “I was out with a couple of friends enjoying a day’s mountain biking around Ben Wyvis. While I’m usually focused on the trail ahead and wide mountain views I also keep half an eye out for interesting plants and fungi, especially on the long, slow uphill sections! I suppose I was secretly hoping for an excuse for a rest so was delighted when I spotted something a little different out of the corner of my eye.
“I recognised it because the Kew Lost and Found Fungi project have been encouraging citizen scientists to look out for rare or under-recorded species. They had highlighted a related lichen as one of their target species so things like this were on my radar.
“It’s always exciting to find something you’ve never seen but for it to be a species that has never been seen in Britain before made my day. The discovery fills a gap in our knowledge of the global distribution of this little fungus. It’s also interesting that it was thriving on an old forestry road siding, demonstrating how nature can sometimes benefit from man-made habitats.
“It just shows the importance of keeping your eyes peeled when you’re out and about enjoying the outdoors - you never know what you might discover.”
To find out more about Ben Wyvis National Nature Reserve visit: https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/scotlands-national-nature-reserves/ben-wyvis-national-nature-reserve
The British Lichen Society is a great source of information for those interested in discovering more about lichen species: https://www.britishlichensociety.org.uk/
ENDS
For more information contact the SNH press office on snhmedia@nature.scot or 0131 316 2655.
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Scottish Natural Heritage is Scotland's nature agency. We work to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. We work to ensure that all nature in Scotland - our key habitats and landscapes, all our green space and our native species - is maintained, enhanced and brings us benefits. It is the job of all of us to achieve a balance in the sensitive management of our natural world in order to maintain and enhance biodiversity. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot
'S e Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Tha sinn ag obair airson ar n-àrainneachd nàdarra ann an Alba a thoirt am feabhas agus a h-uile duine a bhrosnachadh gus barrachd cùraim a ghabhail dhi. Gus am bi an nàdar air fad ann an Alba – ar prìomh àrainnean is chruthan-tìre, ar n-àiteachan uaine gu lèir is ar gnèithean dùthchasach - air an gleidheadh, air an leasachadh 's a' toirt bhuannachdan dhuinn. 'S e an dleastanas a th' oirnn uile co-chothrom ann an stiùireadh faiceallach ar saoghail nàdarra a ruighinn airson bith-iomadachd a ghleidheadh 's a leasachadh. Airson an tuilleadh fios, tadhail air an làraich-lìn againn aig www.nature.scot/gaelic no lean air Twitter sinn aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot

