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Name a species competition : Lichenomphalia alpina
Name a species competition: Lichenomphalia alpina. Photograph: Ray Woods/Natural England
Name a species competition: Lichenomphalia alpina. Photograph: Ray Woods/Natural England

Lichenomphalia alpina – a lichen that thinks it's a mushroom

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Description

Lichen with a toadstool-like "cap"

Ecology

This unusual lichen has a conspicuous mushroom-like reproductive structure which, at first sight, does not look like it could be a lichen at all. This bright yellow cap can grow 5-15mm across. The main body of the lichen consists on a thin, green, granular layer of algae mixed with fungal growth which forms around the mushroom stalk.

Distribution

Lichenomphalia alpina occurs on peaty soils, usually in upland areas, throughout the British Isles.

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