Rag-Like Parmelioids on Macrolichens of Alaska

Ahtiana pallidula

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

Ahtiana pallidula #

Taxon #

Ahtiana pallidula

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A Parmelioid which is usually abundantly fertile with light brown apothecia at the margins of the loosely attached, sometimes ascending lobes. Lower surfaces of the lobes pale and wrinkled (Brodo et al. 2001). Off-white to yellowish when dry or in sunny sites. Light green in the shade or if hydrated.

Substrate #

Corticolous on conifers (Brodo et al. 2001)

Arctocetraria andrejevii

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

Arctocetraria andrejevii #

Taxon #

Arctocetraria andrejevii

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Arctocetraria andrejevii is similar to members of the Cetraria genus. This species lacks cilia, isidia, and soredia but has some marginal pseudocyphellae. The brown thalli have lobes which terminate in flared, dilated, and rounded tips. The lobes are broader and less intricately branched than most typical specimens in Cetraria species (CLH).

Asahinea chrysantha

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

Asahinea chrysantha #

Taxon #

Asahinea chrysantha

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

An off white to ivory colored rag lichen that turns light green when well hydrated. Usually irregularly overlapping lobes but with the rare specimen forming an attractive rosette-like thallus. The other species in the genus, A. scholanderi, is a darker grayish to steely or even blue-green colored lichen which has isidia. Apothecia are extremely rare in both species of the genus and should be noted when found.

Asahinea scholanderi

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

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.

Cetraria aculeata

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

Cetraria aculeata #

Taxon #

Cetraria aculeata

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Cylindrical in cross-section rather than the U-shaped cross section of the flattened lobes of most other Cetraria species. Spiny or thorny in appearance and often shiny if not desiccated. Red-brown to dark brown, lightening up when hydrated. Apothecia rare. More shrubby, less elongated branches than Bryocaulon species.

Substrate #

Terricolous, lignicolous, corticolous, saxicolous

Cetraria ericetorum ssp. reticulata

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

Cetraria ericetorum ssp. reticulata #

Taxon #

Cetraria ericetorum spp. reticulata

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A lichen with light to dark or reddish-brown thalli of canaliculate lobes with marginal projections along the edges. Cetraria ericetorum ssp. reticulata is the subspecies which is expected of North America. The K reaction helps to separate from C. laevigata. C. ericetorum can be separated from C. islandica by differences in the pseudocyphellae. In C. ericetorum they are found only on the lobe margins or may be absent while on C. islandica they are found along the margins and laminally (CLH).

Cetraria kamczatica

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

Cetraria kamczatica #

Taxon #

Cetraria kamczatica

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A lichen with brown thalli composed of canaliculate lobes. Lobe edges wavy, sometimes becoming tubular, usually without spinules. Small marginal pseudocyphellae may be present on the ventral surfaces (CLH). Appearing almost like a brown Flavocetraria cucullata.

Substrate #

terricolous, bryocolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Chemical Tests #

medulla: K-, C-, KC- (CLH)

Cetraria laevigata

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

Cetraria laevigata #

Taxon #

Cetraria laevigata

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Cetraria laevigata is an Iceland Lichen which can be green, olive, yellowish, brown, to reddish brown. Colloquially known as the “Striped Iceland Lichen” because of the more continuous pseudocyphellae on the ventral margins of the lobes. This Cetraria is typically less erratically canaliculate than others of the genus, which often have more irregularly undulating lobe margins.

Cetraria nigricans

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

Cetraria nigricans #

Taxon #

Cetraria nigricans

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Cetraria nigricans is very similarly canaliculate in appearance to C. islandica, C. laevigata, and the Cetrariella species. It is usually darker than those species, having thalli which are blackened or nearly so. The cilia on this species are especially pronounced (Brodo et al. 2001).

Substrate #

terricolous, saxicolous (CLH)

Cetraria odontella

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

Cetraria odontella #

Taxon #

Cetraria odontella

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens, Fruticose Parmelioids

Identification #

Most similar to Cetraria aculeata but more branched, with shortened cilia and pseudocyphellae along the margins in the form of small white dots rather than in distinct depressions (Randlane & Saag 2006). It can be a bright golden or olive color when hydrated or shaded and a dark reddish brown in sunnier sites.

Cetraria sepincola

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

Cetraria sepincola #

Taxon #

Cetraria sepincola

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A small olive to brown lobed foliose lichen which usually grows in abundance over the twigs and branches of shrubs. Usually with abundant apothecia which are olive, brown, to reddish.

Substrate #

Ramicolous on shrubs especially Betula

Chemical Tests #

K-, C-, KC-. Pd- (CLH)

Notes #

Ubiquitous throughout most of Alaska’s shrublands

Cetraria subalpina

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

Cetraria subalpina #

Taxon #

Cetraria subalpina

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Cetraria subalpina can be separated from similar species by a combination of morphology and substrate. C. subalpina grows commonly on tree bases and branches. Most other cetraria lichens are predominantly terricolous, bryocolous, or lignicolous but not commonly on living trees as C. subalpina. C. subalpina typically has less cilia or marginal projections than other species. It is similar to some species of Tuckermannopsis but with generally more elongated, narrow, erect lobes.

Cetrelia alaskana

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

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.

Flavocetraria cucullata

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

Flavocetraria cucullata #

Taxon #

Flavocetraria cucullata

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Flavocetraria cucullata is an off white to light green or sometimes yellowish lichen with very narrow, canaliculate, erect lobes. The lobe tips of this species flare outward like a trumpet which separates from the rarer but similar F. minuscula which terminates in tips which curl downwards like small claws.

Substrate #

terricolous, uncommonly lignicolous, very rarely corticolous

Flavocetraria minuscula

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

Flavocetraria minuscula #

Taxon #

Flavocetraria minuscula

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Lobes which are much smaller and less robust in general than those of Flavocetraria cucullata. In F. minuscula the very tips of the lobes are curled downward rather than outward as in F. cucullata.

Substrate #

Terricolous, bryocolous

Chemical Tests #

K-, C-, KC-, Pd-

Notes #

A data deficient species with only a few records although appearing widespread in the state. Possibly ampi-Beringian (CLH, Spribille et al. 2023)

Flavocetraria nivalis

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

Flavocetraria nivalis #

Taxon #

Flavocetraria nivalis

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

White to cream colored lichen which produces light brown apothecia that may darken in especially sunny sites. No soredia or isidia but often with abundant black pycnidia along the lobe margins which sharpy contrast the white thalli.

Substrate #

Terricolous, we have collected two ramicolous specimens

Notes #

A ubiquitous species throughout Alaska.

Masonhalea inermis

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

Masonhalea inermis #

Taxon #

Masonhalea inermis

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

This species appears similar to other small ramicolous species. Cetraria sepincola shares branches and twigs with Masonhalea inermis but has darker, less elongated lobes. The species might also be mistaken morphologically and chemically (spot tests) for Tuckermannopsis orbata but that species is usually abundantly pycnidiate. The other species of the genus is the well-known M. richardsonii, which is vagrant lichen, blowing across landscapes unanchored to a substrate.

Masonhalea richardsonii

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

Masonhalea richardsonii #

Taxon #

Masonhalea richardsonii

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A vagrant lichen which does not attach to substrate but blows across the landscapes like a symbiotic “tumbleweed”. Reddish brown, olive, to gold colored foliose lichen with long strap-like lobes. Most literature describe the apotheciate form as extremely rare but in remote Alaskan tundras fertile specimens are not uncommon.

Substrate #

None; unattached vagrant

Platismatia glauca

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

Platismatia glauca #

Taxon #

Platismatia glauca

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A foliose lichen which is usually irregularly lobed but sometimes forming neat rosettes or shields, especially in sunny sites on large logs such as on beached or logjammed driftwood. Usually pale shades of white, green, gray, becoming yellowed and browned when at forest margins or especially sunny areas. Having the well-earned common name of “varied rag lichen”, this species has specimens which are commonly esorediate or sorediate, rarely isidiate, and extremely rarely apotheciate.

Platismatia herrei

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

Platismatia herrei #

Taxon #

Platismatia herrei

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

The most narrow-lobed of the Platismatia genus. Isidiate margins along the ribbon-like lobes. Lower surface patched with areas of bright white and dark brown to black. Upper surface light green to browned in very sunny sites. Apothecia rare.

Substrate #

Ramicolous, corticolous

Notes #

Coastal Alaska northwest to the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island. William McClain collected it in Anchorage in 1975 but it is very likely locally extirpated in the Anchorage area today.

Platismatia lacunosa

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

Platismatia lacunosa #

Taxon #

Platimatia lacunosa

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A species which might be mistaken for a species of Lobaria being similarly foliose, greenish to brownish in sunny sites, and with a wrinkled, lung-like texture. Platismatia lacunosa is a much lighter color in general, and many specimens are nearly white. P. lacunosa often produces apothecia in Alaska, these apothecia grow much larger and are often clustered at the lobe margins unlike the laminal apothecia of Lobaria.

Platismatia norvegica

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

Platismatia norvegica #

Taxon #

Platismatia norvegica

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Platismatia norvegica is a light green to brown foliose lichen which is similar to Platismatia lacunosa. P. norvegica has a network of thallus ridges which are not so pronounced as in P. lacunosa, and P. norvegica has isidia on these ridges which are absent in P. lacunosa (Brodo et al. 2001).

Platismatia stenophylla

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

Platismatia stenophylla #

Taxon #

Platismatia stenophylla

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Platismatia stenophylla is a foliose lichen with narrow, usually convex lobes which are light green on the upper side with brown and white below. Lacking in cilia and rhizines. This species looks somewhat like P. herrei which has lost its marginal isidia (Brodo et al. 2001).

Substrate #

corticolous, ramicolous

Notes #

The species has been recorded only of SE Alaska but has not been found in recent years, with some previous material misidentified (Spribille et al. 2023). If it does still occur in the state, it is likely very rare and few in number.

Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla

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

Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla #

Taxon #

Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

A foliose lichen with light green, olive, brown, to reddish brown thalli. Recognized by the marginal soredia that trim the edges of and contrast the shiny lobes.

Substrate #

Corticolous, ramicolous, lignicolous, and saxicolous

Chemical Tests #

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

Notes #

Common in Alaska from the Alaska Range south and west. Few records north of the Alaska Range (CLH).

Tuckermannopsis platyphylla

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

Tuckermannopsis platyphylla #

Taxon #

Tuckermannopsis platyphylla

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Tuckermannopsis platyphylla has a broader thallus in general than the other species of the Tuckermannopsis genus. It has a rough, wrinkled, brown thallus. The roughened surface gives the species an isidiate look but rather than true isidia is from laminal and marginal tubercles. The dark lower surface is helpful in separating it from other Tuckermannopsis species. C. orbata is similarly abundantly apotheciate, pycnidiate, and having isdia-like marginal tubercles but lighter in color (Brodo et al. 2001).

Vulpicida juniperinus

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

Vulpicida juniperinus #

Taxon #

Vulpicida juniperinus

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Two species of Vulpicida occur in Alaska and are easily separated in the field. V. juniperinus lacks soredia while V. pinastri has marginal soredia along the lobes. Substrate is also useful in separating the species as V. juniperinus is found more strictly on calcareous soils and on top of calcareous boulders.

Vulpicida pinastri

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

Vulpicida pinastri #

Taxon #

Vulpicida pinastri

Organization #

Rag-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Only two species of the bright yellow Vulpicida genus are currently known of Alaska. The two are easily separated by the presence or absence of soredia at the margins of the lobes, and with some rare exceptions, substrate. In V. pinastri soredia are present but absent in V. juniperinus. V. pinastri can sometimes look greenish in the shade or when hydrated. V. pinastri can sometimes form nice rosettes or shield-shaped thalli but also produces irregular specimens.