Cape Lookout is sort of the new Cape Blanco now. Lots more moisture heading this way now, that was headed for Southern Oregon. Many of the currents that brought storms into Cape Blanco before are now pointing toward Cape Lookout. One of the reasons that Cape Lookout S.P. may not be there long, as the erosion from northern storms is degrading the beaches quickly. I took photos last Wednesday where I would have been standing 30 feet inland only 4-5 years ago. On Wednesday I was 3 feet above the surf line (high tide), the erosion visibly eating away on the sandstone bedrock of the northern side of Cape Lookout. C.P. itself is basalt and andesite: much harder rock, more likely to withstand the heavy winter storms of the “Pacific” Ocean. Those of us who live near the “Pacific” don’t trust that name much. More storms means more water, but especially along the coast.

Thanks for the possible species. Will search Lichens of North America … again.

Interior BC is the center of diversity for the genus, but they are happy throughout the Pacific Northwest. There should be several species along the Oregon coast besides the three mentioned: P. polydactylon, P. collina, P. neckeri, P. degenii, P. rufescens, P. kristinsonii, P. pacifica to mention perhaps the most common… Plus a few green species and a few of the small sorediate/isidiate ones — but they would look obviously different.

Look for tomentum (esp. near the margins), quality and color of the rhizines and veins underneath, flat versus finger-like apothecia, black versus brown apothecia, green versus gray/brown color, soredia, scabrose/roughened upper surface, highly crisped lobulate margins, margins that don’t curl down at the edges… Lots of things to look for!

Some specimens seemed to have none at all. But a specimen right next to them might be covered with them. Am I in such a diverse area these might be multiple species? Or might the whitish areas be caused by predation by slugs? Banana slugs are abundant in the area as well.

They appear to turn blackish within 1/2 inch of edge of thallus, but newest/youngest rhizimes can be ashy-colored or even whitish.

I can’t quite tell from the photos if the whitish dicoloration on the upper surface is an external encrustation, or due to a thin tomentum from the lichen itself. The pattern would be a bit weird for tomentum, which is typically thickest near the growing margins and tips. Also, the rhizines are dark, even black in some cases — this is atypical for the tomentose species I’d consider: P. praetextata and P. membranacea, for example.