Northwest Lichenologists

Caloplaca

  • 18 Nov 2015 1:37 PM
    Message # 3646420

    Hi all,


    I have an interesting Caloplaca. It looks very much like C. jungermanniae,  except it's growing on rock. The spores are the right size, except the septum is too small. C. lactea has spores and septum that match but the rock it's on is basalt. Could basalt that has been in a lake bed and was under water until the 1920's or 30's become calcareous, or have calcareous qualities? A photo is in the gallery under orange Caloplaca.


    Thanks 

  • 19 Nov 2015 7:45 AM
    Reply # 3648671 on 3646420
    Bruce McCune (Administrator)

    The rock is so pale that it doesn't look like basalt, so maybe there is an evaporite coating on it as you suggest. Did you try the fizz test with HCl?

  • 19 Nov 2015 1:31 PM
    Reply # 3649806 on 3646420

    So much for my theory, muratic acid on the rock did nothing. In the CNALH it talks about C. livida with a hypothecium of I+B. This specimen does turn I+B, could Caloplaca livida be in Northern California?

    Last modified: 19 Nov 2015 2:06 PM | Steve Sheehy

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