I have this pegged in my notes as genus Graphis, named for the fact that it looks like writing, sort of.

Of course scientific names for lichens are interesting, since lichens are really two species not one, a fungus and an alga. I read somewhere that many of the fungi species don't exist except as part of a lichen relationship, but some fungi can and do live apart from the alga.

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

I'll keep an eye out for it and inspect it for beetles when I find it.

Hi John and Jane:

I agree with the photographer, Stephen Cresswell, that it is a species of Graphis. But you still need to look at spores to be sure.

It is a crustose lichen. The grayish white around the black "lines" is the lichen thallus, or body. It grows into the bark and cannot be removed without taking a piece of the bark with it.

The black "lines" are the apothecia, or fruiting bodies, where the spores would be found.

Locally the genus Graphis has one species in it, scripta...so it could be Graphis scripta (Means roughly "writing, writing". I think Graphis is Greek and scripta is Latin...or visa versa)

Anyway I have found it to be very rare in the Chicago region. I collected one at the east side of Harms woods on Quercus rubra and on Acer saccharum in Will county at Hickory Creek woods. I think that is it, though. Very rare.

Well I hope that helps! Thanks for the info about the beetle...I didn't know about it.

Rich

Rich, Thanks for that additional information about the lichen. And John and Jane, thanks for arranging for the info!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com