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Being There - In Venezuela - Craig Murray

Hear from Scot ex-diplomat Craig Murray independent journalist in Venezuela - seems very normal, with no shortages, no repression and good 4G! "Pretty well everything that I have read by Western journalists...turns out to be an absolute lie" www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/202... gofund.me/e98247481

craigmurray.org.uk

I have now been in Caracas for 48 hours and the contrast between what I have seen, and what I had read in the mainstream media, could not be more stark. I drove right through Caracas, from the airport...

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Some more lichens from Knapdale today: Pectenia plumbea s. str., Lobaria pulmonaria on rock, Lobarina scrobiculata + Sticta limbata and Bunodophoron melanocarpum. #LichenGBI

Lobarina scrobiculata and Sticta limbata

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Some tiny lichens in Knapdale: Porina multipuncta, Pyrrhospora quernea, Snippocia nivea and Parmeliella parvula. #LichenGBI

Pyrrhospora quernea: glows a uniform UV+ orange

Snippocia nivea we think: uniform P+ yellow

Parmeliella parvula: very wet but the tiny lobes with pale edges (soralia)

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Does Parmotrema crinitum have fruit like this? Or is it an LF? #LichenGBI

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The next star lichen find is Menegazzia terebrata on a north-facing damp rock outcrop with perforations in the lobes and soralia at the lobe ends. #LichenGBI

Menegazzia terebrata: close-up of holes (without soredia) with soralia visible on some lobe ends

Menegazzia terebrata: multiple thalli on rocks to the right

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One of our star lichen finds today in Knapdale was Pseudocyphellaria citrina (Yellow specklebelly) with lots on one willow and some on some nearby rocks. The yellow colour somewhat dulled perhaps due to being wet. #LichenGBI

Pseudocyphellaria citrina lobes with punctiform soralia showing the yellow medulla, also visible on the lobes margins

Several instances of Pseudocyphellaria citrina on this willow.

The underside of Pseudocyphellaria citrina with yellow pseudocyphellae just visible

Pseudocyphellaria citrina on rocks nearby

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Today we visited the woods at Ardminish south of Loch Stornoway in Knapdale - some lovely 'temperate rainforest' but spoiled by rhododendron that's already spreading badly. In 10/20 years much lichen, bryophyte, fungi and flora will be lost. Spread from nearby gardens and big houses. #LichenGBI

Lovely woods with Lobarina scrobiculata just visible in the centre

View over the woods at Ardminish to Loch Stornoway

Very invasive and destructive Rhododendron in the wood at Ardminish.

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My photos of Wilson's Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum wilsonii) today at Knapdale aren't as clear as yesterday's Tunbridge, but they do show the slightly different green, curled down fronds and untoothed sporangia.

Wilson's Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum wilsonii) green with curled down fronds

Wilson's Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum wilsonii) with untoothed sporangia

Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

In Knapdale today, this lichen might be Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum with a fine network of lines on the upper surface. No rhizines at the underside edge. #LichenGBI

Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum with a fine network of lines (maculae) on the upper surface

Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum: no rhizines at the underside edge

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

In Knapdale today was Tunbridge Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum tunbrigense) - pale green and flat jizz, with jagged sporangia indusia.

Tunbridge Filmy-fern: jagged sporangia indusia

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

We're in Knapdale for the week to explore the scattered oceanic woodlands and coastal rocks for lichens, starting with Cetrelia olivetorum, Leptogium cyanescens and Pannaria rubiginosa. #LichensGBI

Cetrelia olivetorum with tiny white freckles on the upper surface

Leptogium cyanescens, thin with pale grey with small frills turning into lobelets on the lobe margins

Pannaria rubiginosa, fairly common with orange-brown fruit and small lobes with pale margins.

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I'm starting to organise our seemingly extensive lichen herbarium into boxes with home made cardboard dividers. I'm going to need to buy some more boots! #LichenGBI

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More lichens from the dry-stone walls, ash and hazel trees of Swindale: Physcia tribacia, Normandina chlorococca, Peltigera horizontalis and Pertusaria pertusa. #LichenGBI

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In Swindale yesterday was a young Spring hazelcup (Encoelia furfuracea) fungus with a pale brown scurfy external surface. The inside opens up to release spores from the inner surface. #BBCSpringwatch #BBCwinterwatch @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

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Also in Swindale on a siliceous rock outcrop was Psilolechia lucida lichen, a bright-light-green that glows orange in UV, with rare pale orange apothecia. #LichenGBI

Psilolechia lucida: bright-light-green leprose-granular crust on rock with rare pale orange apothecia

Psilolechia lucida clearly showing as orange in UV.

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Just beside the last sighting on hazel was Arthopyrenia cerasi, similar to A analepta but with 3-septate spores. It has separate perithecia, not a stroma. The asci are cylindrical, biseriate and the spores are 3-septate. Interascal strands visible, probably anastomosed pseudoparaphyses. #LichenGBI

Arthopyrenia cerasi perithecia with involucrellum just visible under the non-lichenised fungal thallus

Arthopyrenia cerasi: (upside down) section of a perithecium - with free algae on the surface. The cylindrical asci are visible.

Arthopyrenia cerasi: 3-septate spores constricted at each septum, with perispore just visible. (One or two spores separated into two halves.)

Arthopyrenia cerasi: involucrellum probably K+green but hard to tell with free green algae around.

Yesterday in Swindale, Caz spotted these flattened black patches on hazel bark - but lumpy when viewed close up. This is lichen Tomasellia gelatinosa with each patch a stroma containing multiple perithecia-like locales with 3-septate spores inside. #LichenGBI

Tomasellia gelatinosa - two+ stroma containing multiple locules/perithecia on hazel

Tomasellia gelatinosa stroma section with multiple perithecia-like locules just discernible with spores visible below.

Tomasellia gelatinosa: 3-septate spores, constricted at the septa, with perispore just visible.

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Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security

UK OFFICIAL: HIGH confidence: * Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity * Ecosystem degradation is occurring across all regions. Every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

On an oak from near Haweswater was Bacidia rubella with small but not tiny granules for the thallus, pale-red-brown apothecia with margin, thin acicular spores, a relatively tall hymenium and a largely colourless section. But Bacidia/Bacidina are always tricky. #LichenGBI

Bacidia rubella fruit and thallus in-situ on oak trunk bark

Bacidia rubella samples with the granular thallus more visible.

Bacidia rubella spores are acicular ie long and thin. The ones I measured were around 70 x 2.5μm, multi-septate though it's hard to see them to count properly.

Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

We also found Mycobilimbia sphaeroides lichen at the base of an ash lower down the slope in Naddle Forest at Haweswater. The ash also has other nice lichens including a small amount of Parmeliella thriptophylla. #LichenGBI

Mycobilimbia sphaeroides: green thallus supposedly made of fine granules but looks like tiny squamules to me. Apothecia: 0.6mm, convex, pale-orange/pale-red-brown.

Mycobilimbia sphaeroides: more or less colourless apothecium section

Mycobilimbia sphaeroides spores 13-16 x 4.8μm just visible as 1-septate.

Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

We also checked out a known fallen ash tree at Haweswater which has dying Lobaria pulmonaria lichen on the stump and fallen trunk. Good to refind several patches of very small fruit of Scytinium subtile jelly on the ash lignum. #LichenGBI @britishlichensociety.org.uk @wildhaweswater.bsky.social

Lobaria pulmonaria on an ash tree stump and the fallen ash trunk.

The underside of dying Lobaria pulmonaria with isidia valiantly trying to grow.

Several patches of very small fruit of Scytinium subtile jelly on the lignum, dead ash wood.

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Checked on some more Lobaria pulmonaria lichen translocations today: the same mixture of some good ones, some OK and a few failed or near-as. #LichenGBI

Successful Lobaria pulmonaria translocation

Unsuccessful Lobaria pulmonaria translocation

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Out near Haweswater today, an ash tree still has existing Lobaria pulmonaria thalli, much the same size as 2020, but the Peltigera hortizontalis lichen has expanded greatly since then. Unfortunately the ash won't survive forever. #LichenGBI

An ash tree with Lobaria pulmonaria thalli, Peltigera hortizontalis above and importantly several dark patches of Parmeliella thriptophylla.

A close-up of the Lobaria pulmonaria with Peltigera hortizontalis above TODAY.

Lobaria pulmonaria with Peltigera hortizontalis above in 2020.

Close up of Peltigera hortizontalis (today).

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Checking Lobaria pulmonaria translocations today we were accompanied to a robin for some of the route. Can you spot the two nice looking lichen translocations? #LichenGBI

Two Lobaria pulmonaria translocations on a hazel, with robin in background

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To show some good progress on the Lobaria pulmonaria translocations: this instance in Naddle Forest Haweswater was done in March 2021. The photos show it after 1.5 years and 4.5 years, with mesh removed. It's attached and grown with upturning outer lobes. #LichenGBI @britishlichensociety.org.uk

Lobaria pulmonaria translocation photographed in September 2022 in Naddle Forest, Haweswater

Lobaria pulmonaria translocation photographed in November 2025 in Naddle Forest, Haweswater

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

In early 2021 we did translocations of Lobaria pulmonaria lichen onto 80 trees in the Haweswater area from a donor tree at Naddle which had a bough break off in storms of early 2020. We're checking them all + removing mesh+staples. @britishlichensociety.org.uk #LichenGBI @wildhaweswater.bsky.social

Lobaria pulmonaria lichen translocation on hazel at Haweswater almost 5 years on: one of the best examples showing major growth of the lobes from the small piece attached by the mesh and stainless steel staples. The mesh and staples are now removed.

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Peltigera leucophlebia lichen is always lovely to see on limestone pavement at Knipe Scar with unmistakeable green lobes and pale underside edges often curved back over. Zooming in, it has rounded cephalodia on the upper surface and bushy rhizines and dark flat veins underneath in centre. #LichenGBI

Peltigera leucophlebia: green with curled over lobes showing pale underside - on a mossy limestone pavement clint on Knipe Scar

Peltigera leucophlebia: Dark lumpy cephalodia on the upper surface

The underside edges of Peltigera leucophlebia are usually completely pale, but there are flat dark veins closer in towards the centre of lobe. A few rhizines at the edge are pale and simple-ish but most are bushy/fasciculate towards the centre.

Peltigera leucophlebia on the right seemingly inconspicuous in the limestone pavement

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

I'm glad to helped out a little on this lichen survey last year at Watendlath for the @nationaltrust.org.uk and @britishlichensociety.org.uk - #LichenGBI cumbriacrack.com/2026/01/01/r...

cumbriacrack.com

Rare lichen discovered in Lake District valley – cumbriacrack.com

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Reposted by Chris Cant

Bruce McCune @brucemccune.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

The lichen genus Protoblastenia mushrooms in Finland: "... based on morphology and molecular data (nuITS rDNA sequences). 20 species were recognised, with 16 species being newly described here..." Sure to be found in N Am and elsewhere... mycokeys.pensoft.net/article/162802 (Pykälä & Myllys 2025)

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Chris Cant @chriscant.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Great intro to two remnants of Scotland's Caledonian Forest in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park: Glen Falloch and Coille Coire Chailc with a brief shot of Platismatia glauca. These woods need to be allowed to regenerate and join up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSDV...

youtube.com

Loch Lomond's Hidden Caledonian Forest

YouTube video by cridhe

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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Herbarium catalogue

At RGBE, "E" herbarium there is a searchable database of some of their specimens, which includes a Fissurina alboscripta specimen that we collected in 2019 from Assynt. #LichenGBI data.rbge.org.uk/herb/E01002151

data.rbge.org.uk

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a world-renowned scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation.

As some light relief we were given a tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) herbarium "E" by Assistant Herbarium Curator (Cryptogams) Heleen Plaisier. We had an intro on how specimens are stored and how they can be accessed. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI data.rbge.org.uk/search/herba...

In the E herbarium at a set of drawers with British Lichens

In the E herbarium an open cabinet of specimens

There were several specimens of Catolechia (Epilichen) scabrosa, some in matchboxes so as to help preserve the shape, no doubt provided by eminent lichenologists.

Eric then shared his PhD work on the Poeltinula hochstetteri complex which could be split into an s.str. etc. We looked at a couple of samples and saw differences in the observed features which might show to different species. Our razor blades were seeing cutting edge stuff! #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

Eric Möller presents his work-in-progress on the Poeltinula hochstetteri complex.

A specimen from Norway with a Poeltinula hochstetteri species.

Where another Poeltinula hochstetteri species had been sampled for TLC.

Poeltinula hochstetteri s.str. (I think) showing dark capitate paraphysces

Stretching our brains, Einar discussed the various techniques that they have used in Oslo to analyse the DNA sequences that they've seen. Various tools help build putative taxonomic trees, grouping specimens together into clades that may or may not represent (new) species. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

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John Douglass looked at our specimen of Rhizocarpon geminatum. However he re-determined it as Rhizocarpon subgeminatum as the epiithecium was green, the spores were colourless (except over-mature ones), the spores were small and has more than two spores per ascus. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

Rhizocarpon geminatum re-determined as Rhizocarpon subgeminatum

Rhizocarpon geminatum re-determined as Rhizocarpon subgeminatum notes

The colour of the epithecium and whether it changes colour in KOH can be an important indicator - if you can see it. I think the options are a K- dark epithecium and green upper hymenium - or a dark epithecium which goes slight red in K. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

Poeltinula hochstetteri has a dark epithecium and K- green upper hymenium

Rhizocarpon polycarpum showing the K+red epithecium

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Looking at Rhizocarpon spores will be of great help to get something to species. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

In the Rhizocarpon group, many spores are 1-septate, some are sub-muriform and others are more fully muriform. The size of the spores is important, so measure a few mature ones. You also need to decide whether spores are colourless or brown/green when mature. The ones shown here are mostly colourless but the R alpicola ones are most green when mature. Some colourless ones do shrivel and go brown when over-mature!

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Back on day one of the Rhizocarpon course, it was demonstrated that testing the medulla with KI was a good test for these genera. Some species show an amyloid I+blue reaction. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyloid...

Pick off a chunk of thallus onto a slide then put blobs of KOH and Lugol's Iodine nearby. The Iodine we were using had lactic acid in to help the reaction. Under a dissecting scope, drag in some K then drag in some I.

We tested Rehmia reducta and, as expected, found it I-

Rhizocarpon geographicum showed a swirl of I+blue

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On yellow map lichens Mike Haldeman gave a great talk from North America, heroically early in the morning before work. Mike had been looking at the Rhizocarpon geographicum group, an extremely polymorphic and still poorly understood species complex. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI @brucemccune.bsky.social

Mike Haldeman suggested counting the spokes of areole joints of apothecia in Rhizocarpon geographicum

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We were very pleased to be able to have a look at three separate Rhizocarpon alpicola specimens as we had been looking for this in Langdale. The specimens varied quite a bit and only a few areoles exhibited the classic eyeball of an apothecium surrounded by one areole. #Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI

Rhizocarpon alpicola behaving and showing a classic eyeball with an areole bulging and surrounding the apothecium.

Rhizocarpon alpicola showing a Pd+yellow medulla top right

Rhizocarpon alpicola spores were 1-septate, possibly with an extra very thin septum just visible, turning green/brown as they matured.

Rhizocarpon alpicola GB distribution map

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When looking at the yellow-green Rhizocarpon species the arrangement of the areoles and apothecia is important. (Click for more) But these characters are not clear. There are other things to look for eg R alpicola has 1-septate spores.#Rhizocarpon #LichenGBI claude.ai/public/artif...

Rhizocarpon geographicum is surrounded by angular areoles (A), less common Rhizocarpon lecanorinum is surrounded by one areole for more than half its circumference a C shape (B) while rare Rhizocarpon alpicola has areoles that go all the way round the apothecium. Both Rhizocarpon lecanorinum and Rhizocarpon alpicola can have a bulging eye-ball look.