Gilt-edged Lichen
Lobes 5-10cm wide ()
Rediscovered in 2001 ()
Extremely rare in the UK ()
Crocodia aurata ()
10 carat rarity
A large and spectacular British lichen, the gilt-edged lichen was thought to be extinct until it was discovered on White Island in 2001, the first recorded sighting since 1967. The lichen is widespread in southern tropic regions.
It has a green, leafy appearance, and the genus is often referred to as ‘specklebelly lichens.’ The pale grey lobes are small and rosette-shaped, turning bright green when wet, and the margins are swathed in bright yellow-green granulose soralia, giving the plant a striking and recognisable structure. It looks as the though the lobes have been delicately dabbed with molten gold. It grows on rocks and tree bark in sheltered areas. On Scilly, this lichen is most likely to be found growing on flat, dry rocks.