Kidney Lichens on Macrolichens of Alaska

Nephroma arcticum

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

Nephroma arcticum #

Taxon #

Nephroma arcticum

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

A pale to light yellowish green foliose lichen. This species is unlikely to be confused with any other members of the Nephroma genus as it has lobes which become larger and often weakly erect. Most other species of Nephroma are not seen ground on the ground but on trees and rocks. This species frequently produces large, bright orange apothecia but lacks soredia and isidia. The apothecia appear to be more common in forest populations and may be largely absent when the species is found on open tundras. The light gray spots on the upper surface are the cyanobacteria-containing cephalodia. The green cephalodiate species of Peltigera may appear somewhat similar but those species have veins on the lower surfaces of the lobes, cephalodia which are easier to detach, and produce mature apothecia which are smaller.

Nephroma expallidum

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

Nephroma expallidum #

Taxon #

Nephroma expallidum

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

Highly undulate lobes which are usually somewhat erect. Bright verdant green even when somewhat dry when margins become crisped and ashen. Lower surface lacking in rhizines or veins which can help separate it from most species of Peltigera. Also lacking in the black cephalodia present in the similar looking, green Peltigera species.

Nephroma isidiosum

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

Nephroma isidiosum #

Taxon #

Nephroma isidiosum

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

With abundant, true isidia, including laminally. Other species of Nephroma can have ididia-like or tooth-like, serrate lobe edges. N. helveticum has isidia as well, but they are flattened rather than cylindrical (Brodo et al. 2001).

Substrate #

corticolous, ramicolous (Brodo et al. 2001)

Chemical Tests #

medulla: K-, C-, KC-, Pd- (Brodo et al. 2001)

Nephroma laevigatum

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

Nephroma laevigatum #

Taxon #

Nephroma laevigatum

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

Nephroma laevigatum is readily distinguished in the field by the bright yellow medulla. The foliose thalli are dark grayish brown on the upper surface and light brown below. N. laevigatum lacks soredia and isidia; the small lobules along the lobe margins can mimic isidia. Often with abundant brownish apothecia. Some species of Pseudocyphellaria have yellow medullas and brown upper surfaces but they have true cyphellae on their lower surfaces.

Nephroma occultum

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

Nephroma occultum #

Taxon #

Nephroma occultum

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

A lichen with a tan to light green upper surface. Producing soredia, apothecia not yet known for the species, the soredia found along the margins of the lobes and on the ridges on the thalli which resemble other members of the Peltigerales (Lobaria, Nephroma, Peltigera). The upper surface is subtly browned at the lobe edges but conspicuously so on the underside. The lower surface is lacking in rhizines. (COSEWIC 2006).

Nephroma orvoi

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

Nephroma orvoi #

Taxon #

Nephroma orvoi

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

A chocolate brown, grayish brown, or olive weakly shield or rosette-forming foliose lichen that looks very similar to Nephroma parile. While N. parile tends toward powdery soredia, N. orvoi has propagules which are more corticate (Morris & Stone 2022).

Substrate #

Corticolous and saxicolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Nephroma parile

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

Nephroma parile #

Taxon #

Nephroma parile

Organization #

Kidney Lichens, Peltigerales

Identification #

A chocolate-brown, sorediate kidney lichen which more consistently forms rosette or shield-shaped thalli than other members of the genus. Most similar to N. orvoi which was only recently found in Alaska and North America. The two differ in that the soredia of N. orvoi appear more corticate while those of N. parile are not (Morris & Stone 2022). Apothecia, olive or brown when present, are rarer in N. parile than in most other species of the genus.