Teloschistaceae on Macrolichens of Alaska

Amundsenia approximata

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

Amundsenia approximata #

Taxon #

Amundsenia approximata

Organization #

Lobed-Crustose Lichens, Teloschistaceae

Identification #

A species which is usually entirely crustose but in well-developed specimens minute, weak lobes can form at the thallus margins and around clusters of apothecia. Specimens with these lobes might be confused for another genus of the Teloschistaceae like Rusavskia, Calogaya, or similar.

Substrate #

Saxicolous

Notes #

Collections with known localities from the Lake Clark and Denali National Parks (Dillman 2003 & Søchting et al. 2014 in Spribille et al. 2023). Data deficient species requiring more records in Alaska.

Calogaya spp.

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

Calogaya spp. #

Taxa #

Calogaya arnoldii, Calogaya decipiens, Calogaya saxicola

Organization #

Teloschistaceae

Identification #

Orange to bright yellowish orange, minutely foliose rosettes. Very similar to Rusavskia, Xanthomendoza, or Xanthoria species. Calogaya is readily separated from these by the inflated appearance of the lobes. Many specimens also have conspicuous pruina which are typically absent in the other similar genera in Alaska.

Substrate #

Saxicolous

Leproplaca cirrochroa

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

Leproplaca cirrochroa #

Taxon #

Leproplaca cirrochroa

Organization #

Teloschistaceae

Identification #

Leproplaca cirrochroa is a species which could be mistaken for another saxicolous, sorediate or granular species of the Teloschistaceae like Rusavskia sorediata, Calogaya decipiens, and Caloplaca verruculifera. L. cirrochroa lobes which transition between vibrant shades of yellow and orange and which terminate with a conspicuous marginal pruina. The soredia are bright yellow rather than orange.

Rusavskia elegans & Rusavskia sorediata

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

Rusavskia elegans & Rusavskia sorediata #

Taxa #

Rusavskia elegans, Rusavskia sorediata

Organization #

Teloschistaceae

Identification #

Rusavskia elegans is the most common orange foliose lichen on rocks in Alaska. R. elegans almost always has apothecia when mature but never soredia or isidia. R. sorediata produces soredia and only very rarely does it produce apothecia. Rusavskia is similar morphologically to other genera of their family such as Calogaya, Xanthomendoza, and Xanthoria species. Calogaya species typically appear to have lobes which are more inflated and with less spacing between them. Xanthomendoza borealis also typically grows on rocks (or bones and shed antlers) but does not form neat rosettes. Xanthomendoza fulva has finer lobes which are usually less appressed than Rusavskia. The other species of Xanthomendoza and Xanthoria are typically corticolous rather than saxicolous.

Xanthoria parietina

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

Xanthoria parietina #

Taxon #

Xanthoria parietina

Organization #

Teloschistaceae

Identification #

A bright yellow to bright orange rosette-forming lichen. Concave lobes help to separate from Rusavskia spp. Lobe tips rather spathulate compared to other species of the family in Alaska. Producing abundant apothecia with discs which are slightly darker than the thalli and with rims which are concolorous with the lighter thalli. Lacking soredia and isidia, helping to separate from sorediate species of Xanthomendoza. Xanthomendoza hasseana and X. montana are similar looking and share similar substrates but have lobes which are not so broad as in Xanthoria parietina.