Northwest Lichenologists

Leptogium

  • 13 Jan 2016 11:34 AM
    Message # 3756815

    I am having some trouble with Leptogium, partially because my thallus thin sections aren't that thin. Superficially, does this Leptogium (photos dated 011316) scream a certain species to those used to looking at Leptogiums? Thanks!

  • 14 Jan 2016 9:57 AM
    Reply # 3758769 on 3756815

    Superficially, this looks like what Bruce & Roger in the Soil Crust Book call Leptogium intermedium. I think it is probably an unnamed species. When/if you ever get a thin enough section, you should see a completely packed medulla - no "air" between the long hyphae, and the long hyphae usually are not very long - maybe 10:1 length:width max. There should not be  group of long hyphae going parallel to the cortex in the center of the medulla. This is probably the next group of spp I will be working on, so if you feel like sending me a few good specimens, that would be really helpful. But no big rush, not getting to it this year.


    This species seems to be really common and I think early successional, and it was in nearly every plot we visited in central eastern WA.

  • 14 Jan 2016 2:28 PM
    Reply # 3759596 on 3756815

    Thanks Daphne! I will try for some more thin slices. I appreciate your insight. I would love to send you some Leptogium. I do my best to ID them, but many end up in the Leptogium puzzler bag so I have a number I can send you.  We are doing more plots this spring so I will plan on sending a sampler once field work is complete. If you want to email me your address sometime, I am at rdurham@mpgranch.com. Cheers!

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