Group 4
(continued)
:
Lichens with squamulose thallus at their bases,
some species have squamules covering their entire
surface. Most with upright podetia (stalk-like
structures) and some having cup-like tops.
Name:
Cladonia coccifera
Description:
This species varies in color from
gray with brownish tops when dry to
greenish with brownish tops. All seem
to have dark brown at the very top.
Habitat/s:
On moss, stumps, logs, along
cut-banks and near rocks on
tundra.
Range:
All of South Central
Alaska
Note:
An abundant species often growing in
masses.
|
Cladonia
coccifera
|
Cladina
scabriuscula
|
Name:
Cladina scabriuscula
Description:
Light green when wet and grayish
when dry. The branching of the podetia
is irregular and has small squamules
which are more abundant on the lower
portions. Squamulate thallus at the
base are missing or rare. Soredia
(rounded clumps of hypha near the tips)
few. Apothecia lacking or
rare.
Habitat/s:
Common in moss growing on old logs
and sometimes producing fairly large
mats.
Range:
All of South Central
Alaska.
|
Name:
Cladina arbuscula
Description:
White to greenish tan becoming
grayish tan when dry. The tips of the
podetia are finger-like and sometimes,
in wet weather, drooping. Often grows
in large dense masses.
Habitat/s:
Open areas in woods, fields and on
tundra.
Range:
Extremely abundant, this is one of
the lichens which causes the whitish
bloom on alpine tundra and in open
areas. Common throughout South Central
Alaska.
Note:
Although this species is not "Reindeer
Lichen", it is consumed in large
quantities by caribou.
|
Cladina
arbuscula
|
Cladina mitis
|
Name:
Cladina mitis
Description:
Resembles C. arbuscula, except it
branches very regularly in threes.
Color is white or light greenish tan,
and grows in extensive mats.
Habitat/s:
Open areas in woods, fields, and
common on tundra.
Range:
All of South Central
Alaska.
|
Name:
Cladina rangiferina (Reindeer
Lichen)
Description:
Podetia whitish yellow to very
light gray. Much branching and growing
in mats. The branch tips will often be
in sets of four, however, this is
variable. Tests yellow with lye
solution, and red with chlorine bleach.
(Use microscope).
Habitat/s:
Open areas in woods and on all
tundra.
Range:
Abundant throughout South Central
Alaska.
Note:
All of these matting forms are eaten by
caribou.
|
Cladina rangiferina
|
Note: Podetia are restricted to Cladonia, Cladina,
Dermatocarpon and Psora.
Sphaerophorus
globosus
|
Name:
Sphaerophorus globosus
Description:
Thallus grayish green, twisted and
curled, and at times drooping. Much
branched and with rounded apothecia
forming on branching tips. (not shown)
Apothecia are often rare in local
specimens. Can be confused with cladina
and cladonia when it has no apothecia,
but the contorted and somewhat shiny
podetia will identify it.
Habitat/s:
Open ground, woods, and
tundra.
Range:
All of South Central
Alaska.
|
Name:
Stenocaulon paschale
Description:
Lichen body composed almost
entirely of squamulose material giving
it a very ragged appearance. It grows
upright in mats, sometimes covering
three feet or more. The color is
greenish when wet and gray when dry.
Habitat/s:
Grows on open soil, in gravel pits
and in cracks in rocks.
Range:
All of South Central Alaska. Most
common along old abandoned railway
rights of ways and in glacier
gravel.
|
Stenocaulon
paschale
|
Leprocaulon
albicans
|
Name:
Leprocaulon albicans
Description:
Ash gray and very squamulose. When
dry or wet, it is difficult to pick up
without having it fall into many small
pieces. Pseudopodetia (false
podetia) very granular. It resembles a
specimen of Stenocaulon paschale that
has been badly mistreated.
Habitat/s:
Bare earth, gravel and sometimes on
rock.
Range:
All of South Central Alaska,
wherever habitat exists.
|
Name:
Romalina americana
Description:
The white thallus is very flat,
wide, and often curled along the edges.
The branches seem to become fused
together where they touch or overlap.
There are many fairly large apothecia
at their tips.
Habitat/s:
Tree stumps, moss, and on tree
trunks where a suitable place occurs.
Range:
All of South Central Alaska. Most
abundant on the Kenai Peninsula and
near Copper Center.
|
Romalina
americana
|
Dactylina
artica
|
Name:
Dactylina artica
Description:
Gray and very shiny, wet or dry.
The swollen, finger-like (dactyla)
appearance is all one needs to identify
this singular species.
Habitat/s:
Tundra and open mossy
areas.
Range:
All of South Central Alaska. Rather
common near mile 16 Denali Highway, and
at higher elevations in Chugach State
Park. This species has been collected
on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
canoe trails.
|
Name:
Cetraria cucullata
Description:
Thallus pale green, with yellow
cast when dry. The surface is often
pitted. The upright, flat thallus and
the "rolled in" edges are diagnostic
features identifying this
species.
Habitat/s:
On moss in mixed woods and on
tundra
Range:
All of South Central
Alaska.
|
Cetraria
cucullata
|
Thamnolia
subuliformis
|
Name:
Thamnolia subuliformis
Description:
Thallus erect to prostrate. Whitish
gray and having no reproductive
apothecia present. Testing with
chlorine bleach or lye solution gives a
yellow reaction. (Use
Microscope).
Habitat/s:
Open soil, gravel and sandy places,
in moss and on tundra. Often growing
singly. When this species grows in some
soils it collects particles on the
thallus giving it a roughened
appearance. This should be washed off
before identification is
confirmed.
Range:
Very common in nearly all habitats
in South Central Alaska.
|
Group
5: Lichens with thallus growing matted, branched,
and on tree trunks, limbs and
posts.
Name:
Pseudevernia intensa
Description:
Thallus grayish white, often
becoming yellowish when dried. There
are apothecia often seen on the thallus
which is flattened and rolled in along
the edges. (Use hand lens, ten power).
The size of this lichen is often no
bigger than the
illustration.
Habitat/s:
Spruce twigs, branches and bark. It
occurs on nearly all wood in very wet
seasons, and in areas of normally heavy
rainfall.
Range:
Abundant in the southern sections
of South Central Alaska.
|
Pseudevernia
intensa
|
- Continued
on PAGE 5
-
|
