Lungworts on Macrolichens of Alaska

Lobaria anomala

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

Lobaria anomala #

Taxon #

Lobaria anomala

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Similar to the other lungworts, browner thalli which are less green than L. pulmonaria. The soralia separate from the esorediate species. The soralia and network of thallus ridges of L. anomala contrast more strikingly than in most specimens of other lungwort species. The lobes of L. anomala are typically more rounded than those of L. pulmonaria.

Lobaria anthraspis

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

Lobaria anthraspis #

Taxon #

Lobaria anthraspis

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

This lungwort can be separated by most others by lacking both soredia and isidia. The upper surface of this species is a drab green or light to dark brown color. L. pseudopulmonaria and L. kurokawae also lack soredia and isidia and might be found on similar substrates but they are not typically abundantly apotheciate as L. anthraspis and the lower surfaces look entirely different. In L. anthraspis the lower surface is pale and tomentose with conspicuous pseudocyphellae, while L. pseudopulmonaria and L. kurokawae have blackened lower surfaces (CLH).

Lobaria hallii

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

Lobaria hallii #

Taxon #

Lobaria hallii

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Lobaria hallii looks very similar to Lobarina scrobiculata. The lower surfaces of the lobes of mature specimens are the best portion to inspect in order to separate the species in the field. In L. hallii the lobes will have hairs to the edge of the undersides while they will stop short of the edge a visible margin in L. scrobiculata. Similar to L. scrobiculata the soralia on the upper surfaces can be hemispherical or ring shaped (Brodo et al. 2001).

Lobaria kurokawae

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

Lobaria kurokawae #

Taxon #

Lobaria kurokawae

Organization #

Lungworts

Identification #

Lobaria kurokawae is very similar morphologically to L. pseudopulmonaria, having a blackened lower surface and a brownish or greenish upper surface lacking soredia and isidia. L. pseudopulmonaria has stictic acid while that compound is not known of L. kurokawae.

Substrate #

terricolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Chemical Tests #

Pd-?

Lobaria linita & Lobaria tenuior

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

Lobaria linita & Lobaria tenuior #

Taxa #

Lobaria linita, Lobaria tenuior

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Green, esorediate lungworts which often produce apothecia in abundance. L. pulmonaria, L. anomala, L. hallii, and L. scrobiculata are all sorediate. L. retigera and some specimens of L. pulmonaria are isidiate. L. kurokawae is a darker color and not often fertile, and with L. pseudopulmonaria has a black patterning on the lower surface of the thalli which is not seen in L. linita or L. tenuior.

Lobaria oregana

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

Lobaria oregana #

Taxon #

Lobaria oregana

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Lobaria oregana is a lungwort which is a lighter color than the other green Lobaria species such as L. pulmonaria, L. pseudopulmonaria, L. kurokawae, and L. linita. This species does not produce soredia or true isidia, but many specimens will form abundant lobules along the lobe margins which mimic isidia. This species can also produce abundant apothecia in some specimens or populations. In Alaska in can cooccur with isidiate forms of L. pulmonaria in SE Alaska but the lighter green color is usually enough to readily separate them in the field.

Lobaria pseudopulmonaria

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

Lobaria pseudopulmonaria #

Taxon #

Lobaria pseudopulmonaria

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

This species looks most similar to L. kurokawae. Both species have a dark black patterning on the lower surfaces of the thalli and lack soredia and isidia.

Substrate #

terricolous, corticolous, ramicolous (CLH)

Chemical Tests #

Pd+ orange to red?

Photos #

Lobaria pulmonaria

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

Lobaria pulmonaria #

Taxon #

Lobaria pulmonaria

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Light brown to grass green lichen with a rugose, lung-like texture. This species can be separated from the similar L. linita and L. tenuior by the presence of soredia. Apothecia are much less common in L. pulmonaria compared to L. linita and L. tenuior. L. pseudopulmonaria does not produce soredia or isidia and has a lower surface with some striking black and white contrast. The isidate forms of L. pulmonaria appear rare in Alaska and possibly restricted to the temperate rainforest.

Lobaria retigera

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

Lobaria retigera #

Taxon #

Lobaria retigera

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Known coloquially as the “smoker’s lung lichen”, this lungwort species has a darkened appearance on both the upper and lower surfaces. It is tan to brown or grayish above depending on hydration or desiccation and sun exposure. On the ventral surface it is black and tomentose. This lungwort species is isidiate although apothecia are rare if not unknown from North American populations (COSEWIC). Because of the brown color, were it not for the isidia it might be mistaken for L. anomala or L. pseudopulmonaria.

Lobarina scrobiculata

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

Lobarina scrobiculata #

Taxon #

Lobarina scrobiculata

Organization #

Lungworts, Peltigerales

Identification #

Lobarina scrobiculata is a tan to grayish lungwort which appears very similar to Lobaria hallii. When the thalli are dry, L. scrobiculata is usually a more tan, sometimes almost golden or yellowish color compared to the grayer thalli of L. hallii. When hydrated, both species can appear gray and can be nearly identical in appearance. The soralia of both species can be ring-shaped to hemispherical. The lower surfaces of the lobes of the two species can help distinguish them. In mature specimens, L. scrobiculata will not have hairs at the very edges of the lobe undersdies while L.hallii will have hairs which extend to the edge of the lower surface (see photos) (Brodo et al. 2001).