Parmelia saxatilis (L.) Ach.

A common Parmelia species in the Czech Republic. It grows mainly on siliceous rocks and screes but also on bark of wooden plants, especially in mountains. If occurring epiphytically, the lichen is hard to distinguish from the recently described P. ernstiae and P. serrana. The earlier published morphological characteristics have been questioned lately. Nowadays, only the rather hardly detectable differences in contained substances (P. saxatilis lacks fatty acids) and DNA are recommended for identification. Parmelia saxatilis is widespread from temperate to polar regions on both hemispheres. The preliminary data obtained in the area of the Czech Republic suggest that the lichen grows on tree bark only rarely and if, then typically in the vicinity of rocks, where it forms larger populations.

Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Parmeliaceae → Parmelia