lwalsh4's Identifications

The shape of this organism is mostly round with wrinkles going throughout the plant from the center to the ends of the plant. The size of the plant resembles that of a large leafy plant but on much smaller scale (about 5-7 mm in width). The plant appears to be a bushel of smaller leafy bunches but is actually all one structure. The color of this organism is a pale greenish color (lighter in the middle and darker along the rounded ends). There are no reproductive structures apparent on this organism. The organism's has common visual characteristics of algae and even cyanobacteria which indicates that the organism is a plant (Kingdom Plantae). The habitat that this organism is located in urban. It was found on USF Tampa campus in Tampa, Florida.
Reference: https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-greenshield-lichen

Flavoparmelia caperata, also known as common greenshield lichen, is a seedless nonvascular organism that grows and covers deciduous trees. It appears to be a pale grey/ yellow to green and has rounded and wrinkled lobes that measure from about 3 to 8 mm wide. There are also black rhizoids attached to the back that are unbranched. It is one of the most common lichens in North America, and it is also found in South America, New Zeland, Europe, and sporadically throughout Asia. This specific greenshield moss was found growing on a tree on the campus of University of South Florida in Tampa. Lichens are known to survive in harsh conditions and most typically grow on tree bark or rocks.

“Common Greenshield Lichen - Flavoparmelia Caperata.” NatureSpot, www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-greenshield-lichen.

Roehl, Thomas. “#080: Flavoparmelia Caperata, The Common Greenshield Lichen.” Fungus Fact Friday, 19 Sept. 2016, www.fungusfactfriday.com/080-flavoparmelia-caperata/

The organism is very small and a light green color. The organism is about 1 inch big and has small stanching groups. This was found on the bark of a tree in a humid location. This species can also be commonly found on rocks. Rhizoids attach to the base of trees.
naturespot.org.uk/species/common-greenshield-lichen

This organism is visualized as a growth upon the stalk of a tree. It was spotted within a warm climate on a rainy day. Physical features include: four leaf clover-like petals, large body, and green coloration. Specifically, the shape was around the size of my palm and ranged from wrapping fully around the branch to only parts of the branch. The organism has a greenish grey color that surrounds its entire body. Based upon the observation it appears to be a Flavoparmelia caperata, which can be singled down to a seedless, non-vascular lichen.
nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/lichens.htm

I found this moss near castor hall on campus. I believe that this is a greenshield lichen moss because of its three dimensional, pale green appearance. This particular moss is roughly 4 inches in width and 6 inches in length. There were several other patches of moss along the trunk of this tree. Here is where I found most of my information on the common greenshield lichen. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-greenshield-lichen