Hair & Shrub-Like Genera on Macrolichens of Alaska

Alectoria ochroleuca

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Alectoria ochroleuca #

Taxon #

Alectoria ochroleuca

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens, Fruticose Parmelioids

Identification #

A shrubby lichen that comes in a spectrum of color from entirely off white to a rich blue-green color. Most similar to Gowardia nigricans, the two species may be readily separated in the field by the lightest color found where the thallus attaches to the substrate. If the basal portion is yellowish, it is A. ochroleuca, if gray G. nigricans. A. sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera is more prostrate. Rare fertile forms rather striking with brown apothecia emerging from delicate branches. The light-colored specimens with little to no green coloration may be the most confusing as the darker forms are much more common.

Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera #

Taxon #

Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera is a yellow to greenish yellow fruticose lichen with the largest, basal branches dichotomous. Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera is the subspecies differing from the nominate one by its broader, more flattened branches, and terricolous nature. A. sarmentosa ssp. sarmentosa is a pendulous lichen typically found on trees and is less flattened than ssp. vexillifera (CLH, Brodo et al. 2001).

Bryocaulon divergens

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bryocaulon divergens #

Taxon #

Bryocaulon divergens

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Red-brown to dark brown and shining. Golden-brown when hydrated. Few other dark colored hair-like genera on the ground include Bryoria nitidula and Pseudephebe pubesens. B. nitidula is a dark green color and is less erect. P. pubescens has much finer branches and is also less erect. Gowardia nigricans is a gray color that is not at all brown and Alectoria ochroleuca is a light colored to green colored shrub-like species.

Bryocaulon pseudosatoanum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bryocaulon pseudosatoanum #

Taxon #

Bryocaulon pseudosatoanum

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Bryocaulon pseudosatoanum is most likely to be mistaken for a species of Bryoria. Bryoria species, however, are more pendulous where Bryocaulon is more erect. The pseudocyphellae on Bryocaulon are much more conspicuous as well. The other species of its genus, B. divergens, is a terricolous lichen.

Chemical Tests #

medulla: KC+ red (CLH)

Bryoria spp.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bryoria spp. #

Taxon #

Bryoria alaskana, Bryoria americana, Bryoria bicolor, Bryoria capillaris, Bryoria carlottae, Bryoria cervinula, Bryoria fremontii, Bryoria friabilis, Bryoria furcellata, Bryoria fuscescens, Bryoria glabra, Bryoria implexa, Bryoria inactiva, Bryoria irwinii, Bryoria kockiana, Bryoria lanestris, Bryoria nadvornikiana, Bryoria nitidula, Bryoria pikei, Bryoria pseudofuscescens, Bryoria simplicior, Bryoria subcana, Bryoria tenuis, Bryoria trichodes

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens, Fruticose Parmelioids

Identification #

The genus Bryoria is a very speciose genus in Alaska. While a few of the species may be identified in the field most require a combination of chemical tests and microscopy to determine to species with confidence. We include the list of accepted species for Alaska here taken from Spribille et al. 2023.

Evernia spp.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Evernia spp. #

Taxa #

Evernia divaricata, Evernia mesomorpha, Evernia, perfragilis, Evernia prunastri

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Most similar to the Ramalina genus. E. prunastri is corticolous; found in SE Alaska with one record north of Denali from Stampede Trail (Mariette Pilgrim 1953, CLH). E. mesomorpha is the expected sorediate and isidate, corticolous species inland, in boreal settings. There are not many collections of E. divaricata in Alaska, the range of which may narrowly exclude SE Alaska, occurring between the eastern flank of the Elias Mountains and the Kluane Range, north along the northern edge of the Alaska Range and broadly from Noatak NPP, the western Brooks Range, south to the Seward Peninsula (Emily Holt 2003-2005 in Spribille et al. 2023 and retrieved from CLH). The esorediate E. divaricata is terricolous in the tundra and in forests is corticolous with a preference for conifers (Spribille et al. 2023 and CLH). E. perfragilis is a species from interior Alaska yet found south of the Alaska Range in the state; common north of the Yukon River. E. perfragilis is terricolous like E. divaricata and overlaps in range on the Seward Peninsula and in the Brooks Range. We have collected it from Steese National Conservation Area with two more records not far made near Eagle in 1960 by Larry Gough (CLH). E. perfragilis can be separated from E. divaricata by having a more flattened appearance to the lobes.

Gowardia nigricans

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gowardia nigricans #

Taxon #

Gowardia nigricans

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens, Fruticose Parmelioids

Identification #

Very similar to Alectoria ochroleuca but separated by the lightest colors of the thalli especially at the base where attached to the substrate. G. nigricans is light and dark gray while A. ochroleuca is yellow in the lighter portions and blue-green in darker areas. Brown apothecia growing from the branches are very rare.

Letharia vulpina

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Letharia vulpina #

Taxon #

Letharia vulpina

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

This lichen is very unlikely to be confused for any other genus, the other species of which are not known of Alaska. Vibrant yellow shrub-like thalli that produce brown apothecia very rarely. Dense in isidioid soredia, sparse in true isidia (CLH).

Substrate #

Conifer bark

Chemical Tests #

Cortex and medulla: K-, C-, KC-, Pd- (CLH)

Niebla cephalota

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Niebla cephalota #

Taxon #

Niebla cephalota

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

A member of the Ramalinaceae family, and very much resembling the Ramalina genus. The soredia are usually darker or grayer than in sorediate species of Ramalina.

Substrate #

ramicolous, corticolous, rarely saxicolous (CLH).

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellow to orange or red, Pd+ orange (CLH)

Notes #

Rare in Alaska. Forms of Ochrolechia frigida which are entirely ciliate can appear like Niebla. Ochrolechia frigida usually grows over bryophytes rather than branches.

Nodobryoria oregana

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Nodobryoria oregana #

Taxon #

Nodobryoria oregana

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Conifers with rare exceptions on wood. Similar to but much less commonly encountered than Bryoria species. Lacking soredia or isidia. Red-brown in color with similarly colored apothecia. This species has can have a tangled appearance and lacks pseudocyphellae which are present in many look-alikes (CLH).

Substrate #

Conifers with rare exceptions on hardwoods and shrubs in humid, intermontane forests. Records in Alaska near the coast. Found in the southeasternmost portions of the state.

Polychidium muscicola

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Polychidium muscicola #

Taxon #

Polychidium muscicola

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Forms small cushions of minute, fruticose branches. Usually fertile and often abundantly so, although the apothecia are small and concolorous with the thallus when not hydrated, making them difficult to spot. A common species on mosses in humid areas usually not far from the coast but with some extending further inland; found in Denali National Park.

Pseudephebe minuscula

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pseudephebe minuscula #

Taxon #

Pseudephebe minuscula

Organization #

Shrub & Hair-Like Lichens

Identification #

A dark brown to black branched lichen. Pseudephebe minuscula is not likely to be confused with the other species of its genus, P. pubescens. P. minuscula has branching thalli which are more appressed to the substrate which are not so long and fragile as in P. pubescens. P. minuscula is often found with very dark apothecia which are concolorous with the thalli. Species of Ephebe are usually found closer to water and have much smaller, finer, more delicate filaments than the narrow branches of Pseudephebe. This species is especially common in the alpine.

Pseudephebe pubescens

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pseudephebe pubescens #

Taxon #

Pseudephebe pubescens

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens, Parmeliaceae

Identification #

Pseudephebe pubescens is a rock lichen which is shrubbier than its fellow member of the genus P. minuscula. P. pubescens appears similar to some species of Ephebe, Zahlbrucknerella, or Bryoria nitidula. Ephebe and Zahlbrucknerella have smaller filaments and are less commonly encountered in general. B. nitidula grows on soil or humus often in between or atop rocks and boulders but not growing directly on the rock substrate as in P. pubescens. It is common along with P. minuscula in the alpine throughout the state.

Ramalina almquistii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina almquistii #

“Vainio reported that this species might have soredia at the tips.” (CLH)

Ramalina dilacerata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina dilacerata #

Taxon #

Ramalina dilacerata

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Shrubby, not pendulous. Usually abundantly fertile with apothecia which are concolorous with the rest of the thallus.

Substrate #

corticolous, ramicolous

Chemical Tests #

medulla: K-, C-, KC-, Pd- (CLH)

Notes #

Common on the mainland in Alaska where there are trees north to the Brooks Range. No collections from the Alaska Peninsula but it has been collected from Kodiak Island. (CLH)

Ramalina farinacea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina farinacea #

Taxon #

Ramalina farinacea

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Light yellowish green, shrub-like lichen. Sorediate but only rarely with apothecia. Similar morphologically to R. subleptocarpha but can be distinguished by the shape of the soralia which are more rounded in R. farinacea and more elongated in R. subleptocarpha (Brodo et al. 2001). Differences in expected substrate can also aid in identification as R. farinacea more commonly grows on hardwoods while R. subleptocarpha more commonly on conifers (Spribille et al. 2023).

Ramalina menziesii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina menziesii #

Taxon #

Ramalina menziesii

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens, Fruticose Parmelioids

Identification #

Separated from most others of its family and other shrubby and hair-like genera by the attractive, webby, or lace-like thalli, appearing almost like the gill nets used commonly by Alaskan fishermen. Off white, yellowish, to light green. Abundant, small, concolorous, apothecia in most mature specimens on broader lobed portions.

Ramalina pollinaria

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina pollinaria #

Taxon #

Ramalina pollinaria

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Best recognized by the soralia. Similar in appearance to R. obtusata but in that species the soralia are found on the ends of hood-like lobes. R. scoparia is also similar but has more slender lobes and is expected of rock. Apothecia for this species have not been reported (CLH) and if present likely represent another Ramalina species.

Ramalina roesleri

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina roesleri #

Taxon #

Ramalia roesleri

Organization #

Hair and Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Of all the Ramalina spp. this species is best recognized by having the most finely divided lobe tips. Some similarly fine tips can be found on some other species, such as R. farinacea, but those thalli are usually larger overall, and the finely branched tips may be absent from the younger branches/lobes. In R. roesleri even the youngest branches/lobes are intricately divided.

Ramalina sinensis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina sinensis #

Taxon #

Ramalina sinensis

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

This species is known as the “Fan Ramalina” and attaches to the substrate more broadly than other species of its genus. Most similar to R. obtusata when young but mature specimens are quite easily separated by their very broad lobes which are quite unlike other Ramalina species. R. sinensis also lacks the hood-like soralia of R. obtusata, only producing apothecia, lacking also in isidia (CLH).

Ramalina thrausta

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ramalina thrausta #

Taxon #

Ramalina thrausta

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

This species has the finest branches of the genus. The best things to inspect for to ID this species are the subtly curling or goosenecked branch tips. It lacks the conspicuous, flattened, ribbon-like appearance of most other Ramalina species and could very easily be mistaken for a species of Alectoria or a lighter-colored Bryoria such as Bryoria nadvornikiana. It does not have the fishbone appearance of an Usnea.

Usnea spp.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Usnea spp. #

Taxa #

Usnea angulata, Usnea barbata, Usnea cavernosa, Usnea ceratina, Usnea cornuta, Usnea cylindrica, Usnea dasopoga, Usnea diffracta, Usnea flavocardia, Usnea fragilescens, Usnea glabrata, Usnea glabrescens var. fulvoreagens, Usnea glabrescens var. glabrescens, Usnea hesperina, Usnea hirta, Usnea longissima, Usnea pacificana, Usnea perplexans, Usnea scholanderi, Usnea silesiaca, Usnea subfloridana, Usnea substerilis, Usnea trichodea (Spribille et al. 2023)

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens, Parmeliaceae