Icmadophilaceae on Macrolichens of Alaska

Dibaeis baeomyces

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

Dibaeis baeomyces #

Taxon #

Dibaeis baeomyces

Organization #

Fruticose-Crustose Lichens

Identification #

A rather distinct looking lichen that is likely only to be confused for other members of its family, the Icmadophilaceae. Icmadophila ericetorum and the species of Baeomyces share similarly colored light green thalli and pinkish to fleshy-colored apothecia. I. ericetorum has a similar granular or powdery thallus but the apothecia in that species are not clearly stalked as in D. baeomyces. Some specimens of I. ericetorum can be slightly stalked but these are often much shorter and can be obscured by the mature apothecia which are more planar than globose. The species of Baeomyces can have clearly stalked apothecia but they are much less robust, more minute thalli in general. Baeomyces placophyllus, perhaps the most similar, can be quickly separated by its lobed thalli. The thalli of Dibaeis baeomyces are also more verruculose compared to the other similar species.

Lepra dactylina & Lepra subdactylina

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

Lepra dactylina & Lepra subdactylina #

Taxa #

Lepra dactylina, Lepra subdactylina

Organization #

Fruticose-Crustose Lichens

Identification #

Somewhat reminiscent of Ochrolechia, and from the same order, the Pertusariales. Crustose becoming fruticose with a thallus composed of bone-white, large, roughly cylindrical, isidia. L. dactylina might be mistaken for Siphula ceratites but is not so fruticose as that species.

Substrate #

Terricolous, saxicolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Siphula ceratites & Siphula dactyliza

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

Siphula ceratites & Siphula dactyliza #

Taxon #

Siphula ceratites, Siphula dactyliza

Organization #

Icmadophilaceae

Identification #

Siphula spp. are vaguely similar to the Thamnolia genus, both members of the Icmadophilaceae family, but are not so long, slender, and usually with more blunted tips. Siphula cerites is the expected species on the mainland. It appears bright white but also often with a light-green base of the tufts of bone-like podetia. It grows in areas of microtopography where the soil is at least seasonally saturated. Found commonly in rocky snowmelt areas, and low-velocity creeklets and rivulets. The enigmatic S. dactyliza is currently known only of St. Paul and St. Lawrence Islands and should be sought on other Bering Sea Islands. We searched for S. dactyliza in the Kigluaik Range of the Seward Peninsula and did not find it although the wrong habitat may have been scoured although S. cerites was abundant there.

Thamnolia vermicularis & Thamnolia tundrae

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

Thamnolia vermicularis & Thamnolia tundrae #

Taxa #

Thamnolia tundrae, Thamnolia vermicularis

Organization #

Icmadophilaceae

Identification #

Thamnolia tundrae was found to be a cryptic species which appears morphologically similar to the much documented and studied T. vermicularis, sharing a bone-white thallus of worm-like podetia. T. tundrae is currently known only of the Aleutians leaving T. vermicularis as the expected species on the mainland at present (Jørgensen, P. M. 2019, Brännström et al. 2017, Spribille et al. 2023). The podetia can grow decumbently along the substrate or may be more erect. It is not common in forests but when found there can sometimes be seen reaching for the light in a very erect habit.