Hypogymnia subobscura #

Taxon #

Hypogymnia subobscura

Organization #

Shield-Like Parmelioids

Identification #

Hypogymnia subobscura is colloquially known as the heath tube lichen, a fitting name for the species which, in Alaska, is often found on rocks or lignum in the alpine among heaths, dwarf shrubs, and other lichens. This species lacks soredia and will uncommonly produce isidia or apothecia. The lack of soredia and verrucae help to separate from morphologically similar members of the H. austerodes group. The lobes of this foliose lichen are weakly convex to weakly concave. The lobes usually have an attractive lacquered brown, reddish, bronze, orange, or blackened appearance (Brodo et al. 2001, CLH).

Substrate #

terricolous, corticolous, lignicolous, ramicolous, and saxicolous

Chemical Tests #

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

Notes #

Possibly ubiquitous, not yet recorded from the Alaska Peninsula or the Aleutians (CLH).