Cetrelia alaskana #

Taxon #

Cetrelia alaskana

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Cetrelia alaskana is a macrolichen found on the ground in tundras. It is esorediate, without isidia, and without lobules. Apothecia have yet to be found in this species. The upper surface can be whitish, olive, greenish, or grayish speckled with small but conspicuous, white pseudocyphellae. The ventral surfaces of the lobes are blackened with browned edges. Simple, short rhizines found below (Culberson & Culberson 1968, Brodo et al. 2001). From above it might look like the more common Nephroma arcticum but the lobe edges are darker on C. alaskana and the dark lower surface is unlike N. arcticum.

Substrate #

terricolous (CLH)

Chemical Tests #

cortex: K+ yellow; medulla; K-, C-, Pd- (Culberson & Culberson 1968, Brodo et al. 2001)

Culberson, William Louis, and Chicita F. Culberson. “THE LICHEN GENERA CETRELIA AND PLATISMATIA (PARMELIACEAE).” Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, vol. 34, no. 7, 1968, p. I–558. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23493193. Accessed 24 June 2025.