Xanthoria and potassium hydroxide (KOH)
When a drop of aqueous KOH (a colourless solution) is placed on a yellow Xanthoria cortex the KOH reacts with the yellow pigment parietin to yield a reddish-purple colour. In the photo you can see also white medulla exposed where thallus lobes have broken.
Photographer: Heino Lepp
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