Asahinea scholanderi #

Taxon #

Asahinea scholanderi

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A drab-gray foliose lichen perhaps best recognized by the steely-blue lobe margins. Lobes irregularly overlapping but with some specimens forming attractive rosette-like thalli. This species is isidiate, lacking in soredia, and fertile only in extremely rare cases. After screening hundreds of specimens throughout Alaska we have found only one apotheciate specimen in the White Mountains and with few records elsewhere.

Substrate #

Saxicolous

Chemical Tests #

medulla: K-, C-, KC+ pink to red, Pd- (CLH)

Notes #

Not known of SW Alaska, records absent from the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutians although interestingly known of Japan but not of Eastern Russia until the Indigirka River. Few records on the Alaska-side of the border with British Columbia (CLH, Spribille et al. 2023). Not known of St. Lawrence Island although it may occur there as it can be found commonly on the Seward Peninsula.

Photos #