Eastern Speckled Shield

Punctelia bolliana

A tightly adnate colony of Eastern Speckled Shield spreads across bark, its pale green to olive thallus mottled with abundant white maculae. Numerous olive-toned apothecia dot the surface, each bordered by a persistent thalline margin. Moist winter conditions intensify the green coloration, revealing surface textures and reproductive structures that are often muted or obscured in drier seasons or dried reference material.

For detailed identification notes, comparison with similar species, and field observations, see the Field Notes page for Punctelia bolliana

Eastern Speckled Shield — Colony view
A tightly adnate foliose colony with abundant white maculae and olive-toned apothecia spreading across bark. Hydration intensifies the green coloration.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/8 • Shutter 1/60 s • Flash
E21A8593 • Size: 2987x4480

Eastern Speckled Shield — Olive apothecia detail
Maculate lobes surround numerous olive-green apothecia with persistent thalline margins. Fresh field coloration contrasts with darker tones often seen in dried specimens.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/8 • Shutter 1/60 s • Flash E21A8593A • Size: 2309x1539

Eastern Speckled Shield — Habitat context
The foliose thallus occupies fissured bark alongside other lichens, illustrating growth habit and substrate preference.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/8 • Shutter 1/60 s • Flash E21A8593C • Size: 1354x903

Eastern Speckled Shield — Scale Reference

Eastern Speckled Shield with Millimeter Scale
Eastern Speckled Shield within a mixed sunburst and Physcia community
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/13 • Shutter 1.3 s
E21A8142

A close view of Eastern Speckled Shield (Punctelia bolliana) showing the pale gray foliose thallus with dense black speckling across the upper surface. The inclusion of a millimeter scale provides size context for the lobes and speckling, reinforcing overall growth habit and surface texture—useful field characters when separating Punctelia species from superficially similar foliose lichens.

Eastern Speckled Shield — Lobe Detail

Eastern Speckled Shield Lobe Detail
Eastern Speckled Shield lobe detail with traces of Candleflame
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/13 • Shutter 1.3 s
E21A8143

This detailed view highlights the distinctive black speckling on the upper surface of Eastern Speckled Shield (Punctelia bolliana), a key feature separating it from Rough Speckled Shield. The broad, softly contoured lobes and evenly distributed speckles are especially clear under winter conditions, when moisture enhances contrast and surface definition.