Iceland is situated on top of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, which becomes very tangible in the Þingvellir National park. The spreading of the North American and the European plate becomes highly visible in a series of cracks or faults, the largest one, Almannagjá, being an impressive canyon. For this reason, the park is one of the must-sees of Iceland. However, most tourists will be oblivious to a somewhat less obvious richness, that of lichens - unknown, unloved. For everyone who does recognize lichens and appreciates them, this is another reason to visit the park! |
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Touching America and Europe within a minute is a very special thing to do! |
| Vespula rufa |
| Authority | : | (Linnaeus 1758) |
| Nederlands | : | Rode wesp |
| Deutsch | : | Rote Wespe |
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| Pertusaria corallina |
| Nederlands | : | Granietspeldenkussentje |
| English | : | White Coral-crusted lichen |
| Deutsch | : | Korallen-Porenflechte |
| Svenska | : | stiftlav |
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| The black speckles are a parasite on the lichen. | ||
| Dibaeis baeomyces |
| Nederlands | : | Roze heikorst |
| English | : | Pink earth lichen |
| Deutsch | : | Rosa Köpfchenflechte |
| Svenska | : | klubblav |
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| Solorina bispora |
| English | : | Chocolate chip lichen |
| Deutsch | : | Zweisporige Sackflechte |
| Norsk | : | liten skållav |
| Svenska | : | tvåsporig säcklav |
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Stereocaulon spec. & Thamnolia vermicularis |
| Deutsch | : | Echte Würmchenflechte, Totengebein |
| Svenska | : | masklav |
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| Stereocaulon tomentosum |
| Nederlands | : | Behaard korrelloof |
| English | : | Wooly foam lichen |
| Deutsch | : | Filzige Korallenflechte |
| Svenska | : | luddig påskrislav |
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| Arthrorhaphis alpina |
| Deutsch | : | Alpen-Gliederstäbchenflechte |
| Svenska | : | slät citrinellav |
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| Cetraria aculeata & C. islandica |
| Nederlands | : | Kraakloof |
| English | : | Iceland lichens |
| Svenska | : | islandslavar |
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| Psoroma hypnorum |
| English | : | Green moss shingle |
| Deutsch | : | Grünalgen-Erdschüssel |
| Norsk | : | skjellfiltlav |
| Svenska | : | skållav |
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| Peltigera spec. |
| Norsk | : | årenever |
| Svenska | : | filtlavar |
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| Peltigera leucophlebia |
| Nederlands | : | Bleekgroen leermos |
| English | : | Ruffled freckle pelt |
| Deutsch | : | Adrige Apfelflechte |
| Norsk | : | åregrønnever |
| Svenska | : | ådrig torsklav |
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Most Peltigera's - like the brownish one above - are symbioses between a fungus and a cyanobaterium. This green Peltigera cf. leucophlebia is a so-called tripartite symbiosis: it consists of a fungus, a green algal symbiont and a cyanobaterial symbiont. The caynobacterial symbiont is housed in the so-called cephalodia, the dark 'warts' sprinkled over the thallus. The cyanobacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen, definitely an asset in the nutrient-poor soils these lichens grow on. |
| Placopsis cf. gelida |
| Nederlands | : | Grote zeepkorst |
| English | : | Flesh-coloured alpine lichen |
| Deutsch | : | Braunes Bullenauge |
| Svenska | : | knöllav |
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Another example of a tri-partite symbiosis. The cyanobacteria are housed in the brown cephalodia. |