CA, Southern California, 20081015
Mt Gleason, lichens

These were all from rocks, canyon live oak, incense cedar, and big-cone doug fir; all north-facing; all but the first few in doug-fir-oak forest; above the road to Mt. Gleason, not far from Mill Creek Summit.

Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Thallus, at 10x. Scattering on white granite. Scattering on white granite. 

Lecidea laboriosa [] [voucher] 

 GEN endolithic crust, on granite, with Candelariella vitellina
 APO black, clustered
disc black, flat, epruinose
rim prominant, black to lighter colored than disc, even to more often contorted
epihymenium blackish-brown, not at all greenish, K-
hymenium clear, hypothecium brownish
exciple brown with blackish rind, K-, C-
paraphyses clear, nonseptate, expaded gently to rounded tips, some branched
 SPORE clear, simple, oblong, ~12x3um

 

Here's a combination of the four observations from this day:

 GEN endolithic crust, on granite
 MED whitish, K/I-
 APO black, lecideine, clustered in lines along cracks
disc black, flat to flexuous when crowded, epruinose to conspicuously white-pruinose, 1-2 mm wide
rim prominant to barely raised, black, shiny, smooth, even
epihymenium dark brown to slightly greenish or blue-greenish, K-, POL-
hymenium clear to brownish to bluish-greenish, POL-
hypothecium brown
exciple black to very dark brown outer layer grading into brown to reddish-brown, K-, C-, POL-
paraphyses clear, nonseptate, expanded gently to rounded tips, some branched, strongly conglutinated
 SPORE 8 per ascus, simple, clear, elliptical to oblong, smooth, around 10-12x3um

Spores, in K, at 1000x. Asci with spores, in K, at 1000x. Apo section, in K, at 100x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Scattering on white granite. Scattering on white granite. Scattering on white granite. Scattering on white granite. 

Candelariella vitellina [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite, with Lecidea laboriosa
 THAL yellow, K-, tiny lumps of scattered areoles
 APO tiny ((0.16)0.29+/-0.09(0.43)mm (N=14)), lecanorine
disc dingy yellow, epruinose
rim bright yellow, prominant, smooth, even
epihymenium dark orange, POL+ bright golden not clearing in K, K-
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
exciple cortex like epihymenium, medulla filled with algae and clearing somewhat in K
asci broadly-clavate, thick thollus with big bump protruding into center lumen
paraphyses not septate, gently expanding to broad rounded tips, unbranched
 SPORE 16 or more per ascus, clear, smooth, 1-septate, (7.7)9.3+/-0.8(10)x(3.6)4.2+/-0.4(5.0)um (Q=(1.9)2.1+/-0.1(2.4)) (N=13)
This is the only polysporous species growing on rock (at least in this area).

Letharia vulpina [] [voucher] 

Lovely one by itself. 

Letharia columbiana [] 

Thallus, at 30x, with K spot test. Thallus, at 30x. Many sharing shady granite rock, closerMany sharing shady granite rock. 

Physcia biziana [] [voucher] 

 GEN foliose lichen, on granite, fairly exposed, with Lecanora muralis
 THAL light gray, coarsely white pruinose, K+y, white underneath with white simple rhizines
 MED white, K-
 APO lecanorine, black, densely coarsely white pruinose, substipitate, to 2mm wide, flat

Close-up of a few fertile squamules. On shaded granite. 

Psora nipponica [] [voucher] 

 GEN squamulose lichen, in crevice of granite
 THAL large squamules, deep rich brown to lighter greenish brown, margin white and dusty, lower surface dusty white, K-, C- surface (apparent)
 MED white, C+r
 APO very rare, laminal?, dome-shaped, black, epihyenium dark brown & K+ wine red

On shaded granite, with parasite? 

Dermatocarpon americanum [] [voucher] 

 THAL light gray pruinose above, dark brown verrucose below with no rhizinomorphs

Thallus section, in C, at 100x. Thallus section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Thallus section, in water, at 100x. Immature ascus with spores, in water, at 1000x. Apo with spores, in water, at 1000x. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. 

Rhizocarpon grande [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite
 THAL light to medium gray, areolate, areoles thick and strongly convex and (0.38)0.58+/-0.13(0.86)mm (N=17), K-, C-, dull
 MED white, K-, C+ pink to weakly red, strongly POL+ white clearing in K
 ALG algal layer thick and continuous
 APO black, lecideine, appear sunken between areoles
rim black, prominant, smooth, shiny, even
disc black, flat to slightly convex, epruinose, to around 0.8 mm
epihymenium black, K+ weakly violet, C-, POL-
hymenium clear, POL-, K-, C-, K/I+ blue
hypothecium dark brown to black
paraphyses strongly conglutinated
 SPORE 8 per ascus, clear when young to dark brown when older, strongly muriform, (30)32+/-2(35)x(15)17+/-1(18)um (Q=(1.6)1.9+/-0.2(2.1)) (N=9)
There are two non-parasitic species of Rhizocarpon that are gray with 8 brown muriform spores per ascus: R. eupatraeum (K+ yellow to orange from norstictic acid, C-) and R. grande (K+ or -, C+ red from gyrophoric acid).

Thallus section, in water, at 400x. Thallus section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Thallus section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Dusty patch on granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. On granite. 

Lecidea atrobrunnea atrobrunnea [] [voucher] 

 GEN subsquamulose lichen, on granite
 THAL squamules loosely appressed, 1-2mm wide, rich shiny brown to olive greenish in shade, margins black with white dust, darker below
section irregular hyaline necrotic layer on top, cortex with brownish outer layer, algal layer quite thick and continuous, medulla strongly POL+ whitish not clearing in K, v thick dark brown epihymenium-like cortex of round cells below
all K- and C- and I-
 APO black, laminal, lecideine
rim black, shiny, prominant, even smooth
disc black, epruinose, flat
exciple dark brown, not at all greenish, round cells
no mature apothecia inmy sample unfortunately
paraphyses not conglutinated, v thin, somewhat branched
 SPORE unknown
Hard to really be sure without seeing a spore, but exhaustive bifurcation in various keys has ruled out all other genera and species.  It is odd that this is I-.

Thallus, at 30x. On granite. On granite. 

Aspicilia simoensis [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen
 THAL light gray, thickish, nonlobate, definite margin, tiny pustulate, sterile, cortex K+ yellow turning orange or reddish-orange
There are few gray saxicolous crusts with soredia/isidia with stictic-like acid in the cortex.  This was surprisingly easy to identify in Nash, where they discus specimens from the San Gabriels in particular as having "isidia or a warted areole surface" (instead of soralia).  It seems likely that this is not the correct name for this species, but this is clearly the best name to place on it at the moment until more research is done (by someone else, thankfully). (They are calling it "Aspicilia aff. simoensis", which I'm guessing means that it merely "looks like" A. simoensis.)

Thallus section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Thallus section, in water, at 100x. On shaded granite. 

Lecanora cenisia [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen
 THAL light gray, lumpy, thick, K+y, not lobed
 MED white
 ALG green
 APO lecanorine
disc medium to dark brown, some tan or yellow pruinose, flat, C-
rim thick, prominant, thalline, even
epihymenium brown, with tiny POL+ white granules or crystals
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
aphithecium with large POL+ white crystals, slightly discontinuous algal layer, cortex thicker below
 SPORE didn't bother

Apo section, in C, at 100x. Apo section, in water, at 400x. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Huge beautiful patch, closer. Huge beautiful patch. Somewhat ratty patch. Under shaded granite. 

Lecidea mannii [] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite
 THAL well-developed, areolate, shiny light brown, areoles gently convex, K-
 APO sessile but appearing sunken between areoles, lecideine
disc black, lightly pruinose, around 1mm, flat
rim prominant, black to light brownish due to dust or pruina, noticably C+ pink-red under 30x scope
epihymenium blackish-brown, not at all greenish, K-
hymenium clear
hypothecium (light brownish)
exciple brown with dark blackish-brown outer layer, outer parts C+ red but fleeting

Dusty patch on granite. Several species on granite. 

Rhizoplaca melanophthalma [] 

Going by greenish-bluish apothecial color.

Epihymenium and granules, in water, at 1000x. Ascus with spores, in water, at 1000x. Ascus with spores, in water, at 1000x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Dusty patch on granite. With Candelariella on granite. With Candelariella on granite. Fair amount on granite. Several species on granite. 

Candelariella rosulans [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite
 THAL yellow, mounded, lumpy, continuous
 APO abundant, lecanorine, (0.34)0.48+/-0.11(0.76)mm (N=23)
rim thalline, lumpy, yellow, lighter than disc
disc dingy yellow, to 1mm or so, flat to sl convex, not pruinose
epihymenium orange-brown, POL+ golden granules abundant and inspersing into hymenium
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
 SPORE 8 per ascus, oblong, clear, smooth, (13)16+/-1.5(19)x(5.4)6.5+/-0.49(7.3)um (Q=(2.2)2.5+/-0.2(3.0)) (N=13)

Spores, in water, at 1000x. Ascus and paraphyses, in water, at 1000x. Thallus section, in C. Apo and thallus section, in K, at 100x, polarized.  Pretty thick. Apo and thallus section, in water, at 100x, polarized.  Pretty thick. Apo and thallus section, in water, at 100x.  Pretty thick. Areole with apothecium, at 30x. Areole, at 30x. With Candelariella on granite. With Candelariella on granite. Several species on granite. 

Acarospora obpallens [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose to subumbilicate lichen, on granite, with Candelariella rosulans and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma
 THAL lt brown, overall substipitate broad areoles, surface contorted with overlapping subsquamules, darker below
section cortex with brown layer atop thick clear layer, algal layer very thick and continuous, white medulla below
cortex K-, C+r, POL+ white clearing in K
medulla POL+ white, not clearing in K, K-, C-, K/I-
 APO sunken, complicated clusters of apothecia coalescing into what appears to be a single apothecium per areole
disk dark brown, ridged, subgyrose
epihymenium brown from pigment caps of paraphyses, K-, POL-
hymenium clear, K/I+ blue
subhymenium clear
paraphyses fairly broad, barely enlarged at rounded tips, tips with brown pigment cap, not strongly conglutinated (at least in K)
asci K/I+ wall, K/I- or weakly uniformly blue thollus without a canal
 SPORE many per ascus, clear, smooth, simple, oblong, short to long, (3.3)4.3+/-0.8(5.3)x(1.6)1.9+/-0.3(2.4)um (Q=(1.7)2.2+/-0.3(2.8)) (N=8)

Pycnidia, in water, at 1000x. Pycnidial section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Pycnidial section, in water, at 100x. Spores, in water, at 1000x. Norstictic acid crystals, in K, at 1000x, polarized. Norstictic acid crystals, in K, at 1000x. Apo section, in K, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in K, at 100x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Apothecium, at 30x. Huge specimen on granite, close-up of margin. Huge specimen on granite, close-up of center. Huge specimen on granite. 

Aspicilia cuprea [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite
 THAL light tan, areolate, margin somewhat indistinct but a little whiter, K+ yellow slowly turning reddish-orange
cortex very thin clear ragged layer on top, brown layer outside fading into clear inside, evenly thickened, strongly POL+ white clearing mostly in K, K+ red needle-like crystals (norstictic acid)
algae continuous, thick
medulla white, POL+ white persists in K, K+ weakly yellow
 APO relatively few, lecanorine, most superficial
disc black, flat, round
rim raised in most, thalline, even
epihymenium brown, POL-, K-
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
paraphyses strongly moniliform, unpigmented
 SPORE 4-6 per ascus (several asci and never saw more), clear, simple, broadly elliptical, with big bubble, 20-25x14-15um
conidia filiform, (25)28+/-2.4(34)um (N=14)
This one looked different, since the apothecia were less abundant and mostly superficial, and there appear to be fewer than 8 spores per ascus.  However the conidia (unusually long) and chemistry (norstictic acid major) match A. cuprea.

Gorgeous patch at base of cedar. Beautiful patch on doug fir. 

Hypocenomyce scalaris [] [voucher] 

Much browner, larger, entire lobes, K-, KC+, C+r.

Apo section, in K, at 100x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x, with one apothecium. Thallus, at 30x. Thallus, at 10x. Sterile patch. Two species together. 

Hypocenomyce sierrae [] [voucher] 

 GEN squamulose lichen, on bark at base of incense cedar, with Hypocenomyce scalaris
 THAL lt gray, scales scalloped, around 0.5mm wide, somewhat raised showing soredia, coarsely sorediate below tips, K+ deep yellow, KC-
 ALG algal layer thick, POL+ white granules/crystals abundant throughout
 APO black, lecideine
rim prominant, smooth, black, shiny
disc flat, black, epruinose, to 1mm wide
epi dark brown, hymen clear, hypo dark brown, POL-, couldn't find any asci

Lecidea holopolia [] [voucher] 

 GEN subsquamulose lichen, on bark of incense cedar, being overgrown by Hypocenomyce scalaris
 THAL medium to dark olive green, composed of tiny corticate lumps, forming continuous crust, lumps even growing up on top of edges of apothecia, K-
 ALG green
 APO dark reddish brown, convex, semi-immersed, apparently immarginate, epihymenium brown
hymenium clear, K/I+ blue
hypothecium clear, all K- and POL-, asci K/I+ walls and central canal amid K/I- or weakly blue thollus (Porpidia-type)
 SPORE 8 per ascus, simple, clear, ellip, possibly textured, (13)14+/-0.87(15)x(5.3)6.4+/-0.92(7.8)um (Q=(1.9)2.3+/-0.31(2.8)) (N=6)

Thallus section, in K, at 100x, polarized. Thallus section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Thallus section, in water, at 100x. Spores, in water, at 1000x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus fragments, at 10x. Thallus fragments, at 10x. On granite, darker. On granite. On granite. On granite. 

Lecanora mellea [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on granite, next to Aspicilia simoensis
 THAL effigurate, forming broad mounded rosettes, surface shiny medium brown to paler olive-brown, lobes minute and overlapping and somewhat convex
cortex 30-40um, brown in upper half, POL+ white clearing in K, evenly thickened, K-, C-, KC-
medulla seems loose to me since it was difficult to section without just squishing it, POL+ white not clearing in K
algae in a thick uniform layer
 APO common, lecanorine
disc chesnut brown, epruinose, somewhat convex, to 1mm or more
rim shiny, even, slightly raised, strongly contorted and flexuous
epihymenium brown, POL+ white clearing in K, K-
hymenium clear, K/I+ blue
hypothecium clear
paraphyses thickish, septate, somewhat swollen near tips, somewhat branched, K/I+ golden, separating easily
asci (K/I+ blue tip with relative broad axial canal)
 SPORE 8 per ascus, clear, simple, smooth, broadly elliptical, (10)12+/-1(14)x(6.2)7.9+/-0.9(10)um (Q=(1.1)1.5+/-0.2(2.1)) (N=26)

Spore, in K, at 1000x. Apo section, in water, at 400x. Apo section, in K, at 100x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Apothecia, at 30x. Nice patch on granite. 

Caloplaca arenaria [] [voucher] 

 GEN endolithic crust, on granite
 APO scattered, dark orangish-red, tiny ((0.18)0.36+/-0.08(0.55)mm (N=28)), lecanorine
disc some orange pruinose, flat to weakly convex
rim prominant but thin, lighter
epihymenium dark red, POL+ bright orange, K+ wine red
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
paraphyses final 1-2 cells expanded, often branched near tips
 SPORE 8 per ascus, elliptical to oblong, clear, polarilocular, (11)13+/-1(16)x(2.2)3.5+/-0.9(5.0)um (Q=(2.7)4.0+/-0.8(5.3)) (N=14), septum (1.6)2.3+/-0.3(2.7)um (N=12)

Spores in ascus, in water, at 1000x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Thallus, at 30x. Thallus, at 10x. Absolutely covering an old doug fir limb. 

Lecanora saligna [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, completely covering a very old dead doug fir limb still on the tree
 THAL poorly developed, tannish-brownish, powdery, rimose or verruculose
 APO fairly abundant, lecanorine
rim thalline to somewhat paler, prominant and continuous but eroding slightly with age, corticate but powdery-looking
disc round to rather irreg, concave to convex, completely epruinose, dk reddish brown, textured-shiny, (0.19)0.35+/-0.10(0.56)mm (N=24)
epi brown, POL+ white granules clearing in K
hymen clear, inspered somewhat with epihymenial granules, K/I+ blue
hypo clear, no granules
aphithecium filled with POL+ white small granules/crystals clearing in K, cortex uniform thickness, K-, medulla with moniliform hyphae
para sparingly branched, enlarged tips with brown cell walls
asci thickish K/I- walls, thick truncate K/I+ blue thollus with narrow lighter axial body
 SPORE 8 per ascus, simple, clear, ellip, smooth, ~10x4um, (8.1)9.2+/-0.8(10)x(3.6)3.8+/-0.2(4.3)um (Q=(2.0)2.3+/-0.2(2.7)) (N=7)
Strictly speaking, I should have done C and PPD tests, but this is such a clear match that I didn't bother.

Huge patch on road cut granite, closer. Huge patch on road cut granite. 

Lecidea laboriosa [] [voucher] 

 GEN endolithic lichen, on granite
 APO crowded, lecideine
disc black, conspicuously pruinose, flexuous, ~1mm or so
rim black, shiny, smooth, barely raised, even
epihymenium dark brown, slightly greenish, K-, POL-
hymenium brownish, K-
hypothecium brown
exciple reddish brown, darker outer layer, K-
paraphyses strongly conglutinated, medulla K/I-, exciple C-, all K-
 SPORE 8 per ascus, clear, smooth, simple, elliptical, small
Tired of measuring and photographing this one.

Exciple and asci, in water, at 400x. Apothecia, at 30x. Apothecia, at 30x. Apothecia, at 30x. Apothecia, at 10x. Huge patch on flaking road cut granite, closer. Huge patch on flaking road cut granite. 

Sarcogyne similis [] [voucher] 

 GEN endolithic crust, on granite
 APO minute ((0.48)0.68+/-0.13(1.0)mm (N=35)), lecideine
disc black, flat becoming convex, epruinose
rim black and prominant and smooth and even at first, becoming thinner and/or turning translucent in age
epihymenium brown, not at all green, K-
hymenium clear, hypothecium clear
exciple thin black outer layer from pigment on hyphae tips, not carbonized, grading brown to hyaline inside
 SPORE many per ascus, clear, simple
Tired of measuring these, too.

Spores, in water, at 1000x. Exciple, in water, at 400x. Apo section, in water, at 100x, polarized. Apo section, in water, at 100x. Thallus, at 30x. Thallus, at 10x. 

Sarcogyne similis [] [voucher] 

 GEN endlithic crust, on granite
 APO minute ((0.27)0.39+/-0.07(0.48)mm (N=18)), black
rim prominant, smooth, black, darker than disc
disc reddish black, concave, epruinose
epihymenium golden to reddish brown, K-, 10um thick clear "cortex" on top of some
hymenium brownish to clear, hypothecium brownish to clear, no algae attached to apothecium
para swollen tip, to 5um wide at tip, not pigmented
asci huge
 SPORE tons per ascus, ~3-4x1-1.5um, smooth, simple, clear

Combined, the apothecia are about (0.27)0.53+/-0.15(1.0)mm wide.

On granite. 

Lecidea laboriosa [] 

Lecidea laboriosa [] [voucher] 

 GEN endolithic crust, on granite
 MED I- below apothecia
 APO clustered, flexuous, averaging 1.5-2mm wide, black, pruinose, epihymenium blue-greenish brown, hymenium bluish greenish, hypo brown, exciple dk brown/black outer layer and brown inside, C-, K-
 SPORE ~10-12x3um, simple, oblong, clear, smooth

Dusty patch on granite. Many sharing shady granite rock, closerMany sharing shady granite rock. 

Lecanora muralis [] 

Candelaria pacifica [] 

Spores, in water, at 1000x. Thallus with a few apothecia, at 30x. 

Candelariella efflorescens [] [voucher] 

 GEN crustose lichen, on oak bark with Physcia adscendens and Xanthoria fulva
 THAL yellow granules with a few minute yellow corticate lobes, K-to sl reddish
 APO minute (0.19-0.22mm (N=3)), lecanorine, para cylindrical and not at all swollen
 SPORE how many per ascus?, (11)12+/-0.81(14)x(4.7)5.2+/-0.44(6.0)um (Q=(2.0)2.4+/-0.30(2.8)) (N=8), simple, hyaline, one end typically narrower than other, smooth
Supposedly no fertile specimens of C. efflorescens have been found in the greater Sonoran region.  Judging by spore size, this one is probably 16-spored, but I never found any asci with spores still in it.  And most apothecia were immature.

Physcia adscendens [] 

Physconia perisidiosa [] 

Physconia isidiigera [] 

Fair amount on granite. 

Umbilicaria phaea [] 

Xanthoria montana [] 

Xanthoria fulva [] 

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