Lichens of Hylands Park
John Skinner
Recorders : John Skinner and Tim Pyner
Records : 2000-2002
Nomenclature follows 'The Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland' by Purvis et al (1992) with
a few recent changes.
The principal habitats of interest, from the point of view of their lichen flora, are:
The perimeter wall of the Park
The part examined was in the north east sector, beside the A414 (London Road), but all remaining
sections of old brick wall arc potentially of interest. The lichen flora is typical of established
brickwork with Lecanora atra and Buellia and Trapelia species.
Low garden walls near the House
Low flagstone-capped walls bear an interesting flora with Sarcogyne simplex and Lecidella
carpathica, neither species particularly common in Essex, although easily overlooked.
Ash, Walnut and Willow trees
The most luxuriant lichen growth in the park is seen on sloping Ash and Willow trees, particularly
near ponds. In this situation, trunks are covered with Parmelia species and the two similar species
(split fairly recently) Punctelia subrudecta and P. ulophylla. On one Willow tree. Candelariella
reflexa was found fertile, which is unusual. A large old Walnut tree near the House was also well
covered with lichens, including Parmelia saxatilis, not yet found elsewhere in the park. The
conspicuous species Parmelia caperata and P. perlata, which have both spread and increased
rapidly in Essex over the last ten years, were both found several times.
Tree stumps
Tree stumps, particularly in the formal gardens, were well colonised by Cladonia species. Although
no rare species were found, it emphasises the importance of rotten wood as a lichen substratum.
A total of 61 lichens were recorded. 33 associated in some wav with trees and 28 with brick, mortar
and imported flagstones.
Amandinea punctata
A carospora fuscata
Anisomeridium nyssaegenum
Buellia aethalea
Buellia verruculosa
Caloplaca citrina
Caloplaca holocarpa
Candelariella aurella
Candelariella reflexa
Candelariella vitellina
Catillaria chalybeia
Cladonia chlorophaea
Cladonia coniocraea
bark of Ash, Elder, Walnut, Willow
flagstones of garden wall
Elder
brick boundary' wall
brick boundary wall
mortar of boundary wall
mortar of boundary wall
bricks of boundary wall
bark of Willow (fertile)
brick boundary wall, flagstones of garden wall
bricks of boundary wall
ground in garden
tree stump in garden
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Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park