Northwest Lichenologists

Not a Varicellaria rhodocarpa??

  • 26 Feb 2021 5:53 PM
    Message # 10144205
    Deleted user

    Been working on this crust ID for awhile. The closest I've been able to get is V. rhodocarpa but spores don't match and I can't get a conclusive reaction for the medulla C test (C+R). So I'm assuming it is not. Was found on a red cedar. Only 1 apothecia was present, and it was growing underneath soredia (a trait of V. rhodocarpa). Soredia does have C+R reaction (another trait of V. rhodocarpa). This is a seemingly common crust around the Olympia lowlands. 


    Any tips for proper ID would be greatly appreciated and would help me get some sleep at night!!!

    5 files
  • 27 Feb 2021 9:01 AM
    Reply # 10146453 on 10144205

    Pertusaria?

  • 27 Feb 2021 10:12 AM
    Reply # 10146601 on 10146453
    Deleted user
    daphne stone wrote:

    Pertusaria?

    That was my initial thought, but when I ran it through the MotPNW - Vol 2 Pertusaria key, it sent me to V. rhodocarpa (pg 485). So I think there's something I'm keying wrong, I'm just not sure what. 


    And the pic all the way to left is at 400x

    Last modified: 27 Feb 2021 10:13 AM | Deleted user
  • 28 Feb 2021 7:36 AM
    Reply # 10148792 on 10144205
    Bruce McCune (Administrator)

    You expressed uncertainty about the C reaction, so I suggest getting the full suite of spot tests and UV, then going from there. The whole thallus photo looks like a Pertusaria species but the closeup of the apothecium looks like a different species of Pertusaria. Hard to tell from photos.

  • 01 Mar 2021 12:06 AM
    Reply # 10150849 on 10148792
    Deleted user
    Bruce McCune wrote:

    You expressed uncertainty about the C reaction, so I suggest getting the full suite of spot tests and UV, then going from there. The whole thallus photo looks like a Pertusaria species but the closeup of the apothecium looks like a different species of Pertusaria. Hard to tell from photos.

    Thank you for the help! Working through the key again I've settled on P. borealis.

    I noticed a note after the PEBO entry I didn't see before that helped me come to this conclusion. Tonsberg noted a fertile specimen of this species that have 6 small spores/ascus. This, along with the chemistry, matches my specimen. 

    Last modified: 01 Mar 2021 12:07 AM | Deleted user

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