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Microlichen on Burned Tree. ID help?

  • 06 Jun 2024 10:00 AM
    Message # 13366890

    Any ID help would be greatly appreciated.


    I found this lichen on a partially burned (but still living) maple tree on a busy city street in Portland. The lichen is only present on the burned portion, growing between the pieces of outer bark, and the only thing I can see are these tiny red isidia with whitish/cream tips.


    I studied the isidia with a microscope (squished) so I can confirm there are green algal cells, hyphae and spores present. The spores are oval, septate with 2 spores on each side. 


    Photo 1: The lichen! 

    Photo 2: The substrate, a burned tree.

    Photo 3: Lichen & fungi on the burned areas.

    3 files
  • 07 Jun 2024 9:01 AM
    Reply # 13367370 on 13366890

    This looks a lot like a non-lichenized fungus to me. I think the algae you saw might be free-living algae next to it? see if you can make a slice of one and check if the algae were definitely inside.

    Last modified: 07 Jun 2024 9:03 AM | daphne stone
  • 07 Jun 2024 10:07 AM
    Reply # 13367399 on 13366890

    Thank you, Daphne! I will try to cross section it, it's so very tiny. I will take some more photos, too.

  • 09 Jun 2024 12:56 PM
    Reply # 13367943 on 13366890

    Try the genus Neonectria as in Observations · iNaturalist. I don't believe yours is lichenized either.

    Ken

  • 09 Jun 2024 7:41 PM
    Reply # 13368059 on 13366890

    I took another sample and it is indeed non-lichenized fungi with some free-living algae. Thank you both! I'm off to investigate Neonectria. 

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