74 MELANELIA Melanelia Essl. The Brown Lichens Small to ...

MELANELIA 


Melanelia Essl. The Brown Lichens 

Small to occasionally medium stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, sorediate or isidiate or not, 

pseudocyphellate or not, lobes closely appressed to rather loosely appressed, short to elongate, 0.4–4 (–7) mm 

wide, thin or somtimes rather thick. Upper surface brown, K-, HNO 3 - (ours), pruinose or not. Lower surface pale to 

blackish, bearing short, simple rhizines. Medulla white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia located over upper surface, disc brown; spores simple, ellipsoid, colourless, 8 (–32) per ascus. 

Over bark or rock. 

References: Ahti (1966); Kristinsson (1974); Esslinger (1977a, 1978a). 

Common Name: Describes the colour of the upper surface in this genus. 

Notes: Melanelia is primarily a temperate and boreal genus consisting of about 35 species worldwide. Twentythree 

of these occur in North America and 17 in B.C. Melanelia was one of several genera recently segregated 

from the classic genus Parmelia. 

Two keys are provided. The first key emphasizes vegetative characters, while the second key stresses chemical 

characters. 

5a 

(x8) 

5b (x22) isidia 

8a 

(x6) 

Key to Melanelia and Similar Lichens Stressing Vegetative Characters 

1a Soredia and/or isidia present ........................................................................................... 2 

2a Thallus sorediate, soredio-isidiate (i.e., isidia with “soft” appearance) or, if strictly isidiate, 

then isidia coloured differently from upper surface ......................................................... 3 

3a Thallus sorediate or if isidiate, then mature isidia either distinctly associated with soralia 

or strictly cylindrical; over bark, wood or rock; upper surface HNO - ........................... 4 

3 

4a Soralia arising through gradual disintegration of upper cortex, tending to be diffuse, 

not tightly packed with soredia (or isidia); over bark or wood (rare over mossy rock) . 

................................................................................................................................. 5 

5a Soralia located both along lobe margins and over upper surface(←), arising mostly 

from wart-like outgrowths of upper cortex; lobe tips loosely appressed to ascending, 

often bearing sparse, minute, colourless cortical hairs; “isidia” granular; rare; 

intermontane ................................................................. Melanelia subargentifera 

5b Soralia located over upper surface, usually arising directly from upper cortex; lobes 

more or less appressed throughout; cortical hairs absent; isidia cylindrical at 

maturity(←); widespread and frequent ............................... Melanelia subaurifera 

8b 

(x8) 

4b Soralia distinctly delimited and generally tightly packed with soredia (or isidia); habitat 

various ................................................................................................................. 6 

6a Upper surface generally dark brown or blackening; lobes closely appressed; over 

rock (very rare over wood) .................................................................................... 7 

7a Upper surface bearing distinct scattered pseudocyphellae throughout; lobes typically 

more than 1.5 mm wide; medulla C+ reddish ............................................ 8 

8a Pseudocyphellae often more than 0.5 mm across(←), generally raised above 

upper surface; lobes concave to plane; apothecia absent; coastal .................... 

............................................................................................ Punctelia stictica 

8b Pseudocyphellae less than 0.3 mm across(←), impressed or occasionally 

lying in same plane as upper surface; lobes convex when mature; apothecia 

often present; inland ............................................................ Melanelia tominii 

7b Upper surface without pseudocyphellae or, if pseudocyphellae present, then 

these located along margins; lobes typically less than 1.5 mm wide; medulla C- 

........................................................................................................................... 9 

74

9b 

(x8) 

16a 

(x8) 

16b 

(x8) 

11a 

(x4.5) 

10a 

(x3) 

15a 

(x8) 

9a 

(x8) 

9a Soralia discrete or coalescing, located over upper surface, often near lobe 

margins, generally not elevated above upper surface; upper surface with distinct 

or inconspicuous pseudocyphellae located near lobe margins; lobes rather short 

and tending to broaden at tips; upper surface generally shiny .......................... 

.......................................................................................... Melanelia disjuncta 

9b Soralia discrete (never coalescing), located mostly on tips of small, raised 

lateral lobes(←); pseudocyphellae absent; lobes generally elongate-linear; upper 

surface dull ................................................................ Melanelia sorediata 

6b Upper surface medium brownish; lobes closely appressed to often loosely 

appressed; over bark, wood or mossy rock ......................................................... 10 

10a Lobes usually linear-elongate; lower surface pale; soralia restricted to lobe 

margins(←); widespread; frequent ................................... Cetraria chlorophylla 

10b Lobes usually short; lower surface blackening; soralia marginal and/or over 

upper surface; rare ........................................................................................... 11 

11a Soralia restricted to upper surface(←), circular in outline, often very small; 

medulla C-; boreal ..................................................... Melanelia olivaceoides 

11b Soralia partly located along lobe margins, elongate; medulla C+ rose; 

intermontane................................................................................................. 12 

12a Soralia exclusively located along lobe margins; upper surface rarely whitepruinose; 

over aspen .................................................. [Melanelia albertana] 

12b Soralia located along lobe margins and over upper surface; upper surface 

often white-pruinose; over conifers, deciduous trees, or mossy rock ............. 

...................................................... Melanelia subargentifera (see lead 5a) 

3b True soredia absent; isidia or soredio-isidia present, these never clearly associated 

with soralia (Note: some may, however, be heaped in coralloid masses that resemble 

soralia); mature isidia often enlarged and globular, but never cylindrical; over rock; upper 

surface HNO 3 + blue-green ................................................ Neofuscelia (see lead 15a) 

2b Thallus bearing distinctly corticate isidia, these coloured alike with upper surface; soredia 

absent ........................................................................................................................... 13 

13a Mature isidia predominantly globular, barrel-shaped or elongate-dorsiventral, sometimes 

also in part granular or narrow-cylindrical, sometimes hollow ......................... 14 

14a Mature isidia at most globular (never rhizinate), often partly heaped in coralloid 

masses; upper surface often transversely wrinkled or cracked; over rock; cortex HNO + 3 

blue-green .............................................................................................................. 15 

15a Upper surface yellowish brown to reddish brown (occasionally darker); lobe tips 

often distinctly pale checkered-maculate above; larger isidia generally more than 

0.2 mm wide(←), often pale-checkered; medulla KC+ rose becoming dingy orange 

............................................................................................. Neofuscelia loxodes 

15b Upper surface medium brown to dark brown; lobe tips weakly pale-checkered to 

more often not at all checkered; larger isidia generally less than 0.2 mm wide, never 

pale-checkered; medulla KC- or KC+ pale yellow or rose-red (not becoming dingy 

orange) ................................................................................................................ 16 

16a Isidia often partly heaped in coralloid masses(←), these sometimes darker than 

upper surface; widespread in southern regions; medulla K-, PD- ......................... 

................................................................................... Neofuscelia verruculifera 

16b Isidia scattered to clustered(←), but not heaped in coralloid masses, coloured 

alike with upper surface; mostly intermontane; medulla K+ yellow becoming slowly 

orange, PD+ slowly pale orange .............................. Neofuscelia subhosseana 

75 

MELANELIA


17a 

(x22) 

19a 

(x5) 

18a (x22) isidia 






14b Mature isidia barrel-shaped or elongate-dorsiventral, lower surface (of dorsiventral 

isidia) generally bearing rhizines; isidia occasionally branched, but not heaped in 

coralloid masses; upper surface not distinctly transversely wrinkled or cracked; over 

bark, wood or rock; cortex HNO -........................................................................... 17 

3 

17a Mature isidia loosely appressed and lobe-like(←), never inflated; over rock ....... 

.......................................................................................... Melanelia panniformis 

17b Mature isidia partly erect and cylindrical or barrel-shaped, inflated or not; over 

bark or wood (rare over rock) .............................................................................. 18 

18a Isidia hollow-inflated and barrel-shaped(←), only rarely dorsiventral, with distinct 

greasy lustre above; lobes often rather loosely appressed toward thallus periphery, 

rarely white-pruinose ........................................ Melanelia exasperatula 

18b Isidia never hollow-inflated: either upright and long-cylindrical(←) or if more or 

less appressed, then soon dorsiventral, often somewhat shiny above, but without 

greasy lustre; lobes usually closely appressed throughout, often weakly whitepruinose 

..................................................................... Melanelia subelegantula 

13b Mature isidia either strictly granular and unbranched or strictly narrow-cylindrical (in 

the latter case sometimes branched), never globular, barrel-shaped or elongateddorsiventral 

(immature isidia, however, may occasionally be globular), never hollow .... 19 

19a Lobe tips generally somewhat angular in outline(←); upper surface pale checkeredmaculate 

and/or checkered-pseudocyphellate (check lobe tips); medulla K+ yellow 

becoming orange-red, PD+ bright orange .................................... Parmelia saxatilis 

19b Lobe tips generally rounded in outline; upper cortex lacking pale-checking and 

pseudocyphellae; medulla K-(or K+ violet), PD-..................................................... 20 

20a Neither isidia nor upper cortex readily abrading; medulla generally not exposed 

in patches; upper surface often white-pruinose (check lobe tips); lower surface pale 

throughout or blackening; arid or dry inland localities; medulla C-, KC- .............. 21 

21a Isidia arising as small hemispherical and globular warts(←) (these often basally 

constricted)(←) at various stages of development near thallus centre; over 

rock ...................................................................................... Melanelia infumata 

21b Isidia arising as small conical to hemispherical warts(←) (not basally constricted) 

progressively better developed toward thallus centre; over bark, wood or rock 

.......................................................................................... Melanelia elegantula 

20b Isidia and/or upper cortex in part readily abraded to reveal whitish medullary 

patches; upper surface rarely white-pruinose; lower surface blackening; distribution 

various; medulla C+ red, KC+ red ....................................................................... 22 

22a Upper surface often dull (except shiny near lobe tips); isidia short, less than 

0.3 mm long, generally unbranched(←); medulla white throughout; widespread 

........................................................................................ Melanelia subaurifera 

22b Upper surface usually shiny throughout; isidia elongate (generally more than 

0.3 mm long) with age, often heavily branching(←); medulla usually bearing scattered 

orange patches (check near lower cortex); generally coastal ...................... 

........................................................................................... Melanelia fuliginosa 

1b Soredia and isidia absent (Note: low, white-tipped conical warts/papillae may develop over 

upper surface of some species) ....................................................................................... 23 

23a Over rock or (rarely) soil ........................................................................................... 24 

24a Rhizines absent (sparse, peg-like cortical outgrowths may, however, be present); lobes 

strongly convex throughout; alpine or subalpine........................................................ 25 

76

29a 

(x8) 

30a 

(x5) 

25a 

(x4) 

32a 

(x22) 

34b 

(x8) 

27b 

(x8) 

29b 

(x8) 

25a Upper surface partly checkered-maculate(←), K+ yellow (check near lobe tips); 

lobes in part raised, sparsely branched, seldom completely obscuring substrate; lower 

surface apparently somewhat white-pruinose; medulla PD+ orange or PD- ............... 

..................................................................................................... Brodoa oroarctica 

25b Upper surface not at all checkered-maculate, K- throughout; lobes usually appressed 

throughout, densely branched, generally obscuring substrate; lower surface not at all 

white-pruinose; medulla PD+ strong yellow or PD- ................................................ 26 

26a Upper surface bearing numerous pseudocyphellae, these sometimes sunken; 

medulla KC- ................................... (rare form of) Melanelia stygia (see lead 34b) 

26b Upper surface lacking pseudocyphellae; medulla KC+ reddish ..................... 27 

27a Lower surface mostly pale brownish; coastal in alpine and subalpine localities; 

medulla K-, PD- ...................................................... Allantoparmelia almquistii 

27b Lower surface mostly black; widespread in alpine localities; medulla K+ pale 

yellow, PD+ strong yellow .......................................... Allantoparmelia alpicola 

24b Rhizines present below (check near lobe tips); lobes in part concave to plane, (except 

convex throughout in rare specimens of Melanelia stygia, see lead 35a); distribution 

various ................................................................................................................ 28 

28a Pseudocyphellae and pycnidia present, located primarily along lobe margins, 

pycnidia protruding and barrel-shaped to elongate-cylindrical ............................... 29 

29a Lobe margins more or less distinctly rimmed(←); lower surface typically blackening; 

pseudocyphellae restricted to vicinity of lobe margins (but not actually marginal); 

medulla KC- .................................................................. Cetraria hepatizon 

29b Lobe margins not distinctly rimmed; lower surface typically rather pale or at least 

not blackening; pseudocyphellae more or less strictly marginal (i.e., positioned at 

right angles to upper surface); medulla KC+ rose (flash) ........ Cetraria commixta 

28b Pseudocyphellae and pycnidia absent or, if present, then scattered over upper surface, 

pycnidia either somewhat sunken or at most slightly protruding above upper 

cortex ..................................................................................................................... 30 

30a Upper surface greyish and K+ yellow (check sheltered lobes), white-pruinose or 

not; pseudocyphellae, when present, soon elongate-angular, especially near lobe 

tips; medulla K+ yellow becoming orange-red ................... Parmelia omphalodes 

30b Upper surface brownish or blackish throughout, K-, never white-pruinose; 

pseudocyphellae, when present, spot-like or at least not elongate-angular; medulla 

K- (except often K+ orange in Melanelia tominii) ................................................ 31 

31a Pseudocyphellae absent (or apparently absent) over upper surface .......... 32 

32a Lobes mostly less than 1 mm wide, generally densely lobulate toward thallus 

centre(←); apothecia uncommon; medulla KC- .......... Melanelia panniformis 

32b Lobes mostly more than 1 mm wide, not densely lobulate; apothecia often 

present; medulla KC+ rose or rose-red ............................................................. 

............................ (rare nonsorediate form of) Melanelia tominii (see lead 8b) 

31b Pseudocyphellae distinct over upper surface (check in vicinity of lobe tips) 

......................................................................................................................... 33 

33a Lower surface blackening (check toward thallus centre); medulla KC+ reddish 

or PD+ strong orange............................................................................ 34 

34a Rhizines broadcast over lower surface; medulla KC+ reddish, PD-........... 

....................... (rare nonsorediate form of) Melanelia tominii (see lead 8b) 

34b Rhizines essentially restricted to margins of lower surface(←); medulla KC-, 

PD+ strong orange ............................................................ Melanelia stygia 

77 



36a 

(x5) 

39b 

(x8) 

37a 

(x6) 

38a 

(x8) 

33b Lower surface primarily pale brown to medium brown (or black in localized 

areas); medulla KC- or KC+ pale orangish, PD-. .......................................... 35 

35a Lobes strongly convex; pseudocyphellae averaging to less than 0.2 mm 

long; medulla KC- .............................................................. Melanelia stygia 

35b Lobes concave or weakly convex (check near lobe tips); pseudocyphellae 

averaging to more than 0.3 mm long; medulla KC+ finally orange or KC- ..... 

.................................................................. “Cetraria” agnata (see page 81) 

23b Over bark or wood ................................................................................................... 36 

36a Thallus loosely appressed to semi-erect; lobe margins generally bearing pycnidia 

and/or cilia(←); apothecia located primarily along lobe margins ..................... Cetraria 

39a 

(x8) 

36b Thallus more or less closely appressed, never semi-erect; lobe margins bearing neither 

pycnidia nor cilia; apothecia located over upper surface .................................... 37 

37a Lobes mostly elongate-linear, less than 1.5 mm wide; upper surface generally convex(←); 

lower surface often strongly net-ridged (older specimens); spores 16–32 per 

ascus; inland ......................................................................... Melanelia trabeculata 

37b Lobes short to more or less elongate, broadest averaging to more than 1.5 mm 

wide; upper surface convex to concave; lower surface smooth to wrinkled, but never 

net-ridged; spore number and distribution various ................................................. 38 

38a Apothecia often well developed almost to lobe tips(←); essentially boreal; medulla 

PD+ orange or rarely PD- (check apothecia margins); spores 8 per ascus .... 

..................................................................................... Melanelia septentrionalis 

38b Apothecia usually well developed only toward thallus centre(←); coastal and/or 

intermontane; medulla PD- (check apothecia margins); spores sometimes more than 

8 per ascus ......................................................................................................... 39 

39a Over conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs in dry intermontane forests; 

spores 8 per ascus ........................................................ Melanelia subolivacea 

39b Over deciduous trees and shrubs in humid coast and intermontane forests; 

spores more than 8 per ascus ......................................... Melanelia multispora 

Key to Melanelia and Similar Lichens Stressing Chemical and Spore Characters 

Adapted in part from Esslinger (1977a). 

1a Isidia and/or soredia present ........................................................................................... 2 

2a Isidia present, these sometimes pustular and fragmenting into soredia-like masses; true 

soredia absent ................................................................................................................ 3 

3a Medulla K+ yellow becoming orangish ............................ Neofuscelia subhosseana 


3b Medulla K- or K+ very faint ....................................................................................... 4 

4a Medulla PD+ orangish red; containing fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids 

............................................................................................ Melanelia olivaceoides 

4b Medulla PD-; lacking fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids .......................... 5 

5a Medulla C+ reddish ............................................................................................ 6 

6a Upper surface HNO + blue-green ................................................................... 7 

3 

7a Glomelliferic, glomellic and perlatolic acids present .... Neofuscelia loxodes 

7b Divaricatic (or very rarely stenosporic) acid present ....................................... 

................................................................................ Neofuscelia verruculifera 

6b Upper surface HNO - ...................................................................................... 8 

3 

8a Isidia averaging to less than 0.3 mm long, usually unbranched(←) ................ 

..................................................................................... Melanelia subaurifera 

78

15a 

(x22) 



13b, 14a (x22) isidia 

20b 

(x8) 

8b Isidia averaging to more than 0.3 mm long, often branched(←) ..................... 

........................................................................................ Melanelia fuliginosa 

5b Medulla C- .......................................................................................................... 9 

9a Medulla KC+ reddish ..................................................................................... 10 

10a Medulla KC+ rose, usually fading fast, containing divaricatic acid (or rarely 

stenosporic acid) ................................................... Neofuscelia verruculifera 

10b Medulla KC+ reddish becoming dingy orange, containing glomelliferic, 

glomellic and perlatolic acids ......................................... Neofuscelia loxodes 

9b Medulla KC- .................................................................................................. 11 

11a Upper surface HNO + blue-green; medulla containing divaricatic acid ......... 

3 

............................................................................... Neofuscelia verruculifera 

11b Upper surface HNO - or HNO slightly reddish........................................ 12 

3 3 

12a Isidia distinctly cylindrical ...................................................................... 13 

13a Isidia arising as small conical to hemispherical papillae(←) with (sometimes 

obscure) pseudocyphellae at tip .................... Melanelia elegantula 

13b Isidia arising as small spherical to hemispherical papillae(←) without 

pseudocyphellae at tip ........................................................................... 14 

14a Over rock; isidia upright or somewhat appressed, but not dorsiventral 

................................................................................. Melanelia infumata 

14b Mostly over bark; isidia developing into somewhat appressed 

dorsiventral lobules when mature(←) ........... Melanelia subelegantula 

14b (x22) isidia 12b Isidia not distinctly cylindrical................................................................ 15 

15a Upper surface more or less covered in small, overlapping lobules; over 

rock ...................................................................... Melanelia panniformis 

15b Upper surface not covered in small, overlapping lobules; mostly over bark 

16 

16a Isidia barrel-shaped(←), hollow; no substances present..................... 

......................................................................... Melanelia exasperatula 

16b “Isidia” more or less granular, never hollow; fumarprotocetraric and 


protocetraric acids present or absent .............. Melanelia olivaceoides 

2b True soredia present, sometimes accompanied by isidia .......................................... 17 

17a Medulla C+ reddish ............................................................................................... 18 

18a Soralia located strictly along lobe margins ......................... [Melanelia albertana] 

18b Soralia located over upper surface and sometimes also along lobe margins..... 19 

19a Pseudocyphellae conspicuous over upper surface; over rock; lecanoric acid absent 

......................................................................................... Melanelia tominii 

19b Pseudocyphellae absent or obscure; mostly over bark; lecanoric acid present 

............................................................................................................................ 20 

20a Soralia located strictly over upper surface, arising through disintegration of upper 

cortex; true isidia usually also present ............................ Melanelia subaurifera 

20b Soralia located over upper surface and along lobe margins, those over upper 

surface arising from small “warts”/pustules(←); true isidia absent ....................... 

................................................................................... Melanelia subargentifera 

17b Medulla C- ............................................................................................................ 21 

21a Mostly over bark; medulla lacking perlatolic and stenosporic acids........................ 

............................................................................................ Melanelia olivaceoides 

79 



22a 

(x8) 

27a 

(x8) 

30a 

(x8) 

22b 

(x8) 

27b 

(x8) 

21b Over rock; medulla containing perlatolic and stenosporic acids ........................ 22 

22a Upper surface often rather shiny, bearing obscure to conspicuous pseudocyphellae; 

soralia located over upper surface and along lobe margins, arising partly 

from pseudocyphellae ............................................................ Melanelia disjuncta 

22b Upper surface usually rather dull, lacking pseudocyphellae; soralia mostly terminal 

on main lobes and/or on small, often somewhat erect lateral branches(←), arising 

by gradual disintegration of cortex ................................... Melanelia sorediata 

1b Isidia and soredia absent .............................................................................................. 23 

23a Medulla PD+ yellow or orangish ............................................................................... 24 

24a Lower surface lacking rhizines (peg-like rhizines, however, sometimes present); 

medulla PD+ bright yellow, containing alectorialic and barbatolic acids ......................... 

.............................................................................................. Allantoparmelia alpicola 

24b Lower surface bearing rhizines; medulla PD+ orangish or if PD+ yellow, then norstictic 

and/or salazinic acid present; alectorialic and barbatolic acids absent ..................... 25 

25a Over bark or wood ............................................................................................. 26 

26a Medulla K+ yellow becoming orangish, PD+ yellow, containing norstictic and 

salazinic acid ...................................................................... Melanelia trabeculata 

26b Medulla K- or K+ pale dingy orange, PD+ orangish red, containing fumarprotocetraric 

and protocetraric acids, or (rarely) lichen acids absent ...................... 

..................................................................................... Melanelia septentrionalis 

25b Over rock or (rarely) wood ................................................................................. 27 

27a Pseudocyphellae usually restricted to lobe margins(←); medulla usually rather 

thin, PD+ slowly pale orange, containing stictic and norstictic acids ....................... 

................................................................................................ Cetraria hepatizon 

27b Pseudocyphellae scattered freely over upper surface of lobes(←); medulla usually 

distinctly thick, PD+ rapidly strong orange, containing fumarprotocetraric acid 

..................................................................................................... Melanelia stygia 

23b Medulla PD- ............................................................................................................. 28 

28a Medulla KC+ reddish ............................................................................................ 29 

29a Lower surface lacking rhizines (peg-like outgrowth, however, sometimes present); 

medulla containing olivetoric acid.................................. Allantoparmelia almquistii 

29b Lower surface bearing distinct rhizines (these, however, occasionally restricted to 

lobe margins); medulla containing gyrophoric, alectoronic and/or alpha-collatolic acid 

............................................................................................................................... 30 

30a Pycnidia numerous, restricted to lobe margins(←), usually elongate-cylindrical. 

................................................................................................ Cetraria commixta 

30b Pycnidia usually absent or sparse, positioned partly over upper surface, globular 

............................................................................................................................ 31 

31a Rhizines mostly restricted to lobe margins; medulla containing alectoronic acid 

............................................................................. “Cetraria” agnata (see below) 

31b Rhizines freely scattered over entire lower surface; medulla containing gyrophoric 

acid .......................................... (a rare nonsorediate form of) Melanelia tominii 

28b Medulla KC- .......................................................................................................... 32 

32a Central portions of upper surface bearing numerous small, overlapping lobules 

............................................................................................................................... 33 

33a Upper surface bearing conspicuous pseudocyphellae ........... Melanelia stygia 

33b Upper surface lacking pseudocyphellae or occasionally with very inconspicuous 

pseudocyphellae ............................................................... Melanelia panniformis 

80

81 


32b Overlapping lobules absent over upper surface ................................................ 34 

34a Over bark or wood .......................................................................................... 35 

35a Spores 8 per ascus ................................................... Melanelia subolivacea 

35b Spores more than 8 per ascus .................................... Melanelia multispora 

34b Over rock ........................................................................................................ 36 

36a Upper surface strongly convex, often minutely pitted with “sunken” pseudocyphellae 

............................................................ (rare form of) Melanelia stygia 

36b Upper surface more or less concave (check near lobe tips), not at all pitted 

............................................................................ “Cetraria” agnata (see below) 

“Cetraria” agnata (Nyl.) H. Krist. Map 56 

Leather brown 

Habitat/Range: Rare over acid rock in exposed outcrops in inland alpine and subalpine localities; possibly incompletely 

circumpolar, S to BC. 

Reactions: Medulla C- or C+ slowly pale yellow, KC- or KC+ slowly pale yellow or orange. 

Contents: (Alectoronic acid and various unknowns.) (Often lacking chemical substances.) 

Notes: Though presently placed in Cetraria, this species is more closely related to Melanelia, especially to M. stygia. 

Kristinsson (1974) stated that “Cetraria” agnata lacks chemical substances. However, a few specimens (including 

Hale No. 306, cited in Kristinsson 1974) have subsequently been found to contain alectoronic acid. 

[Melanelia albertana (Ahti) Essl.] 

(Syn. Parmelia albertana Ahti) 

Powdered brown 

Habitat/Range: Over deciduous trees in open forests at lower elevations in central N Am, N to NWT, S to CO. 

Reactions: Medulla C+ reddish, KC+ reddish. 

Contents: Lecanoric acid. 

Notes: Not yet reported from B.C., but present in western Alberta near the B.C. border. 

Melanelia disjuncta (Erichsen) Essl. 

(Syn. Melanelia granulosa (Lynge) Essl.; Parmelia disjuncta Erichsen; Parmelia granulosa Lynge) 

Powdered brown (black starburst) 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over acid rock in open sites throughout, though probably absent from hypermaritime 

localities; circumpolar, S to CA. 

Reactions: Medulla KC- or rarely KC+ faint rose. 

Contents: Perlatolic and stenosporic acids (and various unknown substances). 

Melanelia elegantula (Zahlbr.) Essl. 

(Syn. Melanelia incolorata (Parr.) Essl.; Parmelia elegantula (Zahlbr.) Szat.) 

Elegant brown 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees and shrubs, infrequent over mossy rock, in open dry intermontane forests, 

also infrequent in dry maritime forests; (western) N Am – western Eurasia, S to CA. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative. 

Contents: No lichen substances reported. 

Melanelia exasperatula (Nyl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia exasperatula Nyl.) 

Lustrous brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees and shrubs in open to somewhat sheltered inland forests; circumpolar, S to 

NM. 


Contents: No lichen substances reported.


Melanelia fuliginosa (Fr. ex Duby) Essl. 

(Syn. Melanelia glabratula (Lamy) Essl.; Parmelia glabratula (Lamy) Nyl.) 

Abraded brown 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over bark or rock in open to somewhat sheltered coast forests at lower elevations, also 

rare in humid intermontane old-growth forests; circumpolar, S to CA. 

Reactions: Medulla C+ red, KC+ red. 

Contents: Lecanoric acid and one unknown. 

Melanelia infumata (Nyl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia infumata Nyl.) 

Elegant brown 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over acid rock in open to somewhat sheltered inland sites; N Am – western Eurasia, S to 

CO. 



Melanelia multispora (A. Schneider) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia multispora A. Schneider) 

Eyed brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over deciduous trees and shrubs in coastal and humid intermontane forests (especially 

the ICH zone); western N Am, N to AK, S to CA. 



Melanelia olivaceoides (Krog) Essl. Map 57 

(Syn. Parmelia olivaceoides Krog) 


Habitat/Range: Rare over bark and (possibly) sometimes rock in open boreal regions; western N Am, N to AK, S to 

BC. 

Reactions: Medulla PD+ reddish or PD-. 

Contents: (Fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids.) 

Melanelia panniformis (Nyl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia panniformis (Nyl.) Vainio) 

Lattice brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over acid rock in open sites throughout; circumpolar, S to CO. 

Reactions: Medulla KC- or rarely KC+ dingy rose. 

Melanelia septentrionalis (Lynge) Essl. Map 58 

(Syn. Parmelia septentrionalis (Lynge) Ahti) 

Northern brown 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over deciduous trees and shrubs in open boreal forests, also rare in intermontane localities 

(ICH zone) at lower elevations; circumpolar, S to BC. 

Reactions: Medulla K- or rarely pale yellowish, PD+ orangish or rarely PD-. 

Contents: (Fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids.) 

Melanelia sorediata (Ach.) Goward & Ahti 

(Syn. Melanelia sorediosa (Almb.) Essl.; Parmelia sorediata (Ach.) Th. Fr.; Parmelia sorediosa Almb.) 

Powdered brown (crape lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over acid rock in open inland sites; circumpolar, S to CO. 

Reactions: Medulla KC- or rarely KC+ faint rose. 

Contents: Perlatolic and stenosporic acids (and various unknown substances). 

82

Melanelia stygia (L.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia stygia (L.) Ach.) 

Leather brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over acid rock in open inland sites; circumpolar, S to WA. 

Reactions: Medulla PD+ orangish or PD- 

Contents: (Caperatic, fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids and various unknown substances; occasionally 

lacking lichen substances.) 

Notes: The material assigned to this species is morphologically diverse and may represent two or more taxa. 

Melanelia subargentifera (Nyl.) Essl. Map 59 

(Syn. Parmelia subargentifera Nyl.) 


Habitat/Range: Infrequent among moss over base-rich outcrops in open to somewhat sheltered dry intermontane 

forests, also rare over trees; incompletely circumpolar, N to BC, S to CA. 



Melanelia subaurifera (Nyl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia subaurifera Nyl.) 

Abraded brown 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees in open to somewhat sheltered forests at lower elevations throughout; incompletely 

circumpolar, S to CA. 



Melanelia subelegantula (Essl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia subelegantula Essl.) 

Subelegant brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees and shrubs mostly in open dry intermontane forests; western N Am, N to 

southern BC, S to CA. 



Melanelia subolivacea (Nyl. in Hasse) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia subolivacea Nyl. in Hasse) 

Eyed brown 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees and shrubs in open dry intermontane forests, also reported once in CDF zone; 

western N Am – eastern N Am – western Eurasia, N to southern BC, S to CA. 



Melanelia tominii (Oxner) Essl. 

(Syn. Melanelia substygia (Räsänen) Essl.; Parmelia saximontana R. Anderson & W. Weber; Parmelia substygia Räsänen) 


Habitat/Range: Frequent over acid rock in open inland sites in dry regions; circumpolar, S to NM. 


Contents: Gyrophoric acid and two unknown substances. 

Melanelia trabeculata (Ahti) Essl. Map 60 

(Syn. Parmelia trabeculata Ahti) 

Baby brown 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over trees and shrubs, especially deciduous, in open intermontane (ICH zone) and 

especially boreal forests; N Am, N to AK, S to BC. 

Reactions: Medulla K- or K+ yellow becoming orange, PD- or PD+ pale yellow or orange. 

Contents: (Norstictic acid.) 

83 


MENEGAZZIA/NEOFUSCELIA 

MENEGAZZIA 

Menegazzia Massal. The Treeflute Lichens 

Small to medium stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, sorediate (ours), lobes rather closely 

appressed, hollow, averaging to 1–2 mm wide. Upper surface pale greyish, perforate. Lower surface black, shiny, 

wrinkled, lacking rhizines. Medulla white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia unknown in the B.C. material. 

Over deciduous trees. 

Reference: Santesson (1943). 

Common Name: Describes the hollow lobes and perforated upper surface characteristic of this genus. 

Notes: Menegazzia, with approximately 30 species worldwide, is primarily a genus of temperate latitudes in the 

southern hemisphere; only one species occurs in North America. 

Menegazzia terebrata (Hoffm.) Massal. 

Magic treeflute 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over deciduous trees and shrubs in open to somewhat shady coast 

forests at lower elevations; incompletely circumpolar, N to AK, S to CA. 

Reactions: Cortex K+ yellow; medulla K+ yellow, PD+ slowly orange. 

Contents: Atranorin, constictic and stictic acid. 

NEOFUSCELIA 

Neofuscelia Essl. The Brown Lichens 

Small to medium stratified foliose lichens (ours), corticate above and below, nonsorediate, isidiate or not, nonpseudocyphellate, 

lobes closely appressed (ours), short to elongate, averaging to 1–3 (–5) mm wide, thin. Upper 

surface brown, K-, HNO 3 + blue-green, dull to shiny. Lower surface black (ours), shiny, bearing short, simple rhizines. 

Medulla white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia unknown in B.C. material. 

Over rock, or rarely over mosses on rock. 

References: Esslinger (1977a, 1978a). 

Common Name: Describes the colour of the upper surface in this genus. 

Notes: Neofuscelia is primarily a temperate genus consisting of approximately 60 species worldwide. Ten species 

occur in North America and three in B.C. Neofuscelia was formerly treated within Parmelia. For points of 

distinction with similar species in other genera, see the key under Melanelia. 

2a 

(x8) 

1a 

(x8) 

(x3) 

2b 

(x8) 

1a Upper surface yellowish brown to reddish brown (occasionally darker); 

lobe tips often distinctly pale checkered/maculate above; isidia averaging to 

more than 0.2 mm wide(←), often pale checkered; medulla KC+ reddish 

becoming dingy orange ........................................... Neofuscelia loxodes 

1b Upper surface medium brown to dark brown; lobe tips not at all pale 

checkered/maculate to at most weakly checkered; isidia averaging to less 

than 0.2 mm wide, never pale checkered; medulla KC- or KC+ pale yellow 

or reddish (but never dingy orange) ......................................................... 2 

2a Isidia often partly heaped in branching/coralloid masses(←), these occasionally 

darker than upper surface; widespread; medulla K-, PD-........ 

..................................................................... Neofuscelia verruculifera 

2b Isidia scattered to clustered(←), but not heaped in coralloid masses, 

coloured alike with upper surface; mostly inland; medulla K+ yellow becoming 

slowly orange, PD+ slowly pale orange....................................... 

.................................................................... Neofuscelia subhosseana 

84

Neofuscelia loxodes (Nyl.) Essl. Map 61 

(Syn. Parmelia loxodes Nyl.) 

Blistered brown 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over rock in open arid to dry inland sites at lower elevations, also rare over mossy rock 

and grassland shrubs; western N Am – western Eurasia, N to southern B.C., S to CA. 

Reactions: Cortex HNO 3 + pale to dark blue-green; medulla C- or C+ slowly yellow, KC+ reddish to becoming 

orangish. 

Contents: Glomellic, glomelliferic, perlatolic (and gyrophoric acids). 

Neofuscelia subhosseana (Essl.) Essl. Map 62 

(Syn. Parmelia subhosseana) Essl. 

Blistered brown 

Habitat/Range: Rare over rock in open arid inland sites at lower elevations, especially in BG zone; western N Am, 

N to southern BC, S to CA. 

Reactions: Cortex HNO 3 + dark blue-green; medulla K+ yellow becoming red, PD+ very pale orange. 

Contents: Various unidentified substances. 

Neofuscelia verruculifera (Nyl.) Essl. 

(Syn. Parmelia verruculifera Nyl.) 


Habitat/Range: Frequent over rock in open coastal and inland sites at lower elevations, especially in CDF, BG and 

PP zones; western N Am – western Eurasia, N to southern BC, S to CA. 

Reactions: Cortex HNO 3 + dark blue-green; medulla KC- or KC+ reddish. 

Contents: Divaricatic acid (and stenosporic acid, gyrophoric acid and two unknown substances). 

NEPHROMA 

Nephroma Ach. The Paw Lichens 

Small to medium or large stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, sorediate or isidiate or not, lobes 

loosely appressed to loosely attached, short to elongate, averaging to 0.5–2 (–3) cm wide, thin. Upper surface 

greenish, greyish or brownish, dull or shiny. Lower surface pale to dark, naked or more or less covered in dense 

woolly tomentum, occasionally also tuberculate, lacking rhizines. Medulla white (yellow to orange). Photobiont 

green and/or blue-green. 

Apothecia appressed over lower surface near lobe tips, disc brown; spores 4-celled, spindle-shaped, pale 

brown, 8 per ascus. 

Over trees, logs, mossy rocks. 

References: Wetmore (1960, 1980); James and White (1987); White and James (1988); Goward and Goffinet 

(1993). 

Common Name: Alludes to the presence of brown, paw-like apothecia on the lower surface; in all other genera the 

apothecia are located over the upper surface or along the lobe margins. 

Notes: Nephroma is a cosmopolitan genus of about 40 species worldwide. Nine are known from North America 

and all occur in B.C. Although thin-layer chromatography has been used successfully in the elucidation of some 

Nephroma species (see for example James and White 1987), spot tests are of little taxonomic value in this 

genus. 

1a Photobiont a grass-green alga; upper surface usually at least in part greenish 

(especially when wet: check sheltered lobes); soredia and isidia absent; over 

mossy rock or decaying logs; restricted to cool, snowy districts ..................... 2 

2a Upper surface more or less shiny, mostly yellowish green; internal cephalodia 

visible from above as scattered darker patches(←); lower surface blackening 

toward thallus centre(←); apothecia common ............. Nephroma arcticum 

2a 

(x1.5) lower 

2b 

(x1.5) lower 

2a 

(x4) 

2b Upper surface dull, greenish to brownish; internal cephalodia not visible from 

above; lower surface dark brown toward thallus centre(←); apothecia rare 

................................................................................ Nephroma expallidum 

85 

NEOFUSCELIA/NEPHROMA

NEPHROMA 

5a 

7a 

(x1.5) 

3b, 9a 

(x3) lower 

11a 

(x4.5) 

8b, 11b 

(x4.5) 

6a 

(x15) 

7b 

(x3) 

4a 

(x2.5) 

1b Photobiont a dark blue-green cyanobacterium; upper surface brownish, greyish, or if greenish, 

then also sorediate or isidiate; ecology and distribution various ................................. 3 

3a Lower surface distinctly and more or less evenly covered in dense, woolly hairs, these 

tending to obscure the fine details of the surface wrinkles; soredia absent .................... 4 

4a Upper surface greyish, sparsely covered in minute, linear white markings/maculae(←); 

lower surface pale; rare ............................................................................................... 5 

5a Lower surface pale lemon yellow; lobe margins tattered/lacerate(←); over branches 

of conifers in old-growth forests ........................................ Nephroma silvae-veteris 

5b Lower surface whitish; lobe margins even; over mossy logs or ground .................... 

......................................................... (blue-green phototype of) Nephroma arcticum 

4b Upper surface brownish, not at all maculate; lower surface dark brownish .............. 6 

6a Upper surface ridged and isidiate, isidia clustered and branched(←), usually restricted 

to ridges ................................................................................. Nephroma isidiosum 

6b Upper surface more or less plane; isidia absent or, if isidia-like lobules present, then 

these usually occurring singly .................................................................................. 7 

7a Lower surface sparsely “warty”/papillate(←) (check fertile lobes); backs of apothecia 

broadly wrinkled and often covered in minute erect hairs; lobe margins usually (but 

not always) lacking lobules.............................................. Nephroma resupinatum 

7b Lower surface lacking “warts”/papillae; backs of apothecia occasionally rough-textured, 

never hairy; lobe margins distinctly lobulate(←) ............................................ 

........................................................................................... Nephroma helveticum 

3b Lower surface naked(←) or minutely woolly, “woolliness” not obscuring fine details of 

surface wrinkles; soredia present or absent ................................................................... 8 

8a Thallus lobulate, but lacking soredia or isidia (Note: lobules may, however, occasionally 

appear isidia-like; in this case “isidia” are usually borne singly) ........................... 9 

9b, 10a 

(x3) 

9a Lobe margins and upper surface usually not at all lobulate(←); upper surface naked; 

medulla white, K- (or occasionally K+ pale yellow); apothecia present; over bark and 

rock............................................................................................... Nephroma bellum 

9b Lobe margins and/or upper surface usually lobulate; upper surface naked or minutely 

woolly; medulla white or orange, K- or K+ reddish; apothecia present or absent; generally 

over rock .......................................................................................................... 10 

10a Medulla at least in part orange, K+ reddish; coastal .... Nephroma laevigatum 

10b Medulla white throughout, K-; widespread .......................................................... 

.................................................................... Nephroma helveticum (see lead 7b) 

8b Thallus sorediate or, if apparently isidiate, then “isidia” densely clustered(←) ....... 11 

11a Upper surface yellowish green, more or less net-ridged/reticulate(←); restricted to 

old-growth forests; rare ............................................................ Nephroma occultum 

11b Upper surface brownish or greyish, plane to weakly wrinkled, but never reticulate; 

widespread and common ............................................................... Nephroma parile 

86

Nephroma arcticum (L.) Torss. 

Green paw (arctic kidney lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over moss and mossy rocks and logs in open upland sites throughout, especially in 

snowy districts; circumpolar, S to BC. 


Contents: Both phototypes: nephroarctin, phenarctin, usnic acid, zeorin (and methyl gyrophorate). 

Notes: Nephroma arcticum contains internal cephalodia that may occasionally develop into separate thalli of medium 

size. These thalli represent the blue-green phototype of Nephroma arcticum, which was recently detected 

in B.C. in humid intermontane forests (ICH zone) at lower elevations. Though closely resembling Nephroma 

silvae-veteris, it differs in having a chemistry identical to that of green N. arcticum (medulla K-, PD-) and in 

being attached to typical lobes of N. arcticum. 

Nephroma bellum (Sprengel) Tuck. 

Cat paw 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees and mossy rocks in open to somewhat shaded forests throughout, except 

possibly absent from boreal regions; circumpolar, S to AZ. 


Contents: Zeorin and various other triterpenoids. 

Nephroma expallidum (Nyl.) Nyl. 

Alpine paw 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over moss in open inland sites at higher elevations, especially in AT zone; circumpolar, 

S to BC. 


Contents: Zeorin and various other triterpenoids (also various other substances). 

Nephroma helveticum Ach. 

Dog paw (Swiss lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees and mossy rocks in open to shady forests at lower elevations throughout; 

incompletely circumpolar, S to MX. 


Contents: Various triterpenoids. 

Notes: Two varieties occur in B.C.: 

1a Marginal lobules minute, 0.1–0.4 mm in length, generally dorsiventral; mostly over rock .. 

................................................................................................................... ssp. helveticum 

1b Marginal lobules varying in size, but generally 0.3–0.5 (–1.5) mm in length, often cylindrical; 

over bark and (occasionally) over mossy rock ................................................................ 

........................................................................... ssp. sipeanum (Gyelnik) Goward & Ahti 

Nephroma isidiosum (Nyl.) Gyelnik Map 63 

Pepper paw 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over mossy rocks and conifers in humid intermontane forests at lower elevations; incompletely 

circumpolar, S to BC. 


Contents: Methyl gyrophorate, various triterpenes (and gyrophoric acid). 

Nephroma laevigatum Ach. 

(Syn. Nephroma lusitanicum Schaerer) 

Seaside paw (smooth Swiss lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over rock and occasionally deciduous trees and shrubs in open coastal localities; incompletely 

circumpolar, S to CA. 

Reactions: Medulla K+ reddish. 

Contents: Various triterpenoids, an orange anthraquinone and various other substances. 

87 

NEPHROMA

NEPHROMA/NORMANDINA 

Nephroma occultum Wetm. 

Cryptic paw 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers in open old-growth maritime and intermontane (ICH zone) forests at lower 

elevations; western N Am, N to B.C., S to OR. 


Contents: Nephroarctin, phenarctin, usnic acid, zeorin and an unidentified triterpenoid. 

Nephroma parile (Ach.) Ach. 

Powder paw (chocolate-coloured nephroma, powdery Swiss lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees and mossy rocks in open to shaded inland forests at lower elevations, especially 

humid regions; circumpolar, S to AZ. 


Contents: Zeorin and other triterpenoids (and also various other substances). 

Notes: The material included here appears to be heterogeneous. 

Nephroma resupinatum (L.) Ach. 

Blister paw (black-fruiting lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over trees, infrequent over rock, in open to somewhat shady forests at lower elevations 

throughout, except probably absent in boreal regions; circumpolar, S to CA. 



Nephroma silvae-veteris Goward & Goffinet Map 64 

Old-growth paw 

Habitat/Range: Rare over conifers in open transition coast-intermontane old-growth forests at lower elevations; 

western N Am, N to B.C., S to WA. 

Reactions: Medulla K+ yellow, PD+ pale orange. 

Contents: Constictic, cryptostictic, norstictic, stictic and usnic acids and one unknown. 

Notes: See comments under Nephroma arcticum. 

NORMANDINA 

Normandina Nyl. The Elf-ear Lichen 

A minute stratified squamulose lichen, weakly corticate above, noncorticate below, sorediate, thallus attached 

to substrate at one edge, rotund “ear-shaped,” averaging to 1–2 (–3) mm across. Upper surface greenish to pale 

bluish grey, often with distinct raised rim. Lower surface whitish, lacking rhizines. Medulla white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia unknown. 

Over trees and mossy outcrops in sheltered sites. 

References: Culberson and Hale (1966); Aptroot (1991). 

Common Name: Describes the tiny, rimmed, ear-shaped lobes characteristic of the species. 

Notes: Normandina is a monotypic genus of temperate distribution. 

Normandina pulchella (Borr.) Nyl. 

Elf-ear (confetti lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent (overlooked?) over moss, mossy bark, or over other lichens in humid, sheltered 

lowland sites throughout, except absent in boreal regions; probably incompletely circumpolar, S 

to AZ and NM. 


(x9) 


88

PANNARIA 

89 

PANNARIA 

Pannaria Delise in Bory The Mouse Lichens 

Minute to small or occasionally medium stratified squamulose, foliose or occasionally crustose lichens, 

corticate above, noncorticate below, sorediate or (apparently) isidiate or not, rarely pruinose, lobes closely 

appressed, subrotund to elongate, averaging to 1–3 (–4) mm wide, thin to thick. Upper surface pale tan to greyish 

blue or dark brownish (lobe margins often whiter), smooth to slightly roughened. Lower surface pale and often 

resting on dark hypothallus. Medulla white. Photobiont blue-green. 

Apothecia located over upper surface, disc usually reddish brown; spores simple, ellipsoid to somewhat spindleshaped, 

colourless, 8 per ascus. 

Over bark, rock, moss and soil. 

Common Name: Reflects the miniature size of the lobes and the dull greyish brown colour of the upper surface in 

many species. 

References: Ohlsson (1973); Jørgensen (1978, 1991). 

Notes: Pannaria is primarily a temperate genus of approximately 80 species worldwide. Of the 17 species reported 

for North America, seven are known to occur in B.C., while several other possibly undescribed species also 

occur. The following account is therefore preliminary, pending further study of the western species. 

4b 

(x6) 

6a 

(x9) 

4a 

(x9) 

5a 

(x2.5) 

6b 

(x9) 

Key to Pannaria and Similar Lichens 

1a Photobiont a grass-green alga ............................................................................ Psoroma 

1b Photobiont a dark (greenish) blue to dark greyish blue cyanobacterium ......................... 2 

2a Thallus sorediate, soredia usually originating on undersides of lobes, but marginal when 

mature ............................................................................................................................. 3 

3a Upper surface bearing stiffly erect or appressed-tomentose hairs (check carefully); 

hypermaritime, rare ..................................................................................................... 4 

4a Upper surface partly covered in dense minute, stiffly erect hairs(←); medulla PD+ 

orange .................................................................................. Erioderma sorediatum 

4b Upper surface partly covered in sparse appressed woollen hairs/tomentum; medulla 

PD- ...................................................................................... Leioderma sorediatum 

3b Upper surface lacking hairs (except a few cobwebby hairs rarely present at lobe tips in 

Pannaria mediterranea); distribution and frequency status various ............................. 5 

5a Lower surface distinctly veined; thallus more than 4 cm in diameter ......................... 

........................................................................................................ Peltigera collina 

5b Lower surface lacking veins; thallus usually less than 2 cm in diameter ................ 6 

6a Upper surface somewhat roughened/scabrid; soredia usually brownish grey; over 

trees; lobes rather elongate, often more than 2 mm long; coastal ........................... 

..................................................................................................... Pannaria ahlneri 

6b Upper surface smooth; soredia usually bluish grey; over trees or moss; lobes scalelike/isodiametric, 

less than 1 (–1.5) mm long; widespread in humid sites ................ 

......................................................................................... Pannaria mediterranea 

2b Thallus lacking true soredia (Note: Soredia-like “isidia” may sometimes be present, but 

these never originate on undersides of lobes) ................................................................ 7 

7a Thallus lacking isidia (Note: Some species may produce flattened, isidia-like lobules, 

though these usually lie in same plane as lobes) ........................................................ 8 

8a Over bark or wood (or over moss on bark or wood); coastal .................................. 9 

9a Upper surface somewhat roughened/scabrid, especially toward lobe margins; marginal 

lobes usually radiating, flattened to concave, usually broader than central lobes; 

apothecial rim thalline (i.e., coloured alike with upper surface of lobes),“warty,” often 

covered below in minute white hairs ................................................................... 10

PANNARIA 

10b 

(x9) 

11b 

(x9) 

13a 

(x8) 

15a 

(x8) 

16a 

(x15) 

17b 

(x8) 

12a 

(x9) 

11a 

(x9) 

14a 

(x9) 

17a 

(x11) 

10a 

(x9) 

10a Marginal lobes averaging to less than 1.2 mm wide; medulla PD-.................... 

....................................................................................Pannaria leucostictoides 

10b Marginal lobes usually averaging to more than 1.5 mm wide; medulla PD+ orange 

or yellow (rarely PD-) ............................................... Pannaria rubiginosa 

9b Upper surface smooth throughout; marginal lobes not radiating, similar in size to 

central lobes; apothecial rim thalline or not, never warty or hairy ....................... 11 

11a Upper surface of lobes distinctly dull, strongly convex(←); apothecial rim never 

thalline ............................................................................ Pannaria “saubinetii ” 

11b Upper surface of lobes somewhat shiny, predominantly plane(←); apothecial 

rim often thalline ................................................................. Pannaria laceratula 

8b Over soil or rock (or over moss on soil or rock); distribution various .................... 12 

12a Lobes tips strongly white- or blue-felted(←); upper surface dark brown; coastal, 

most common in rock crevices near ocean .............................. Pannaria maritima 

12b Lobe tips white-felted or not (never blue-felted); upper surface pale or dark; habitat 

and distribution various .................................................................................. 13 

13a Thallus usually forming tight crust; apothecia abundant, disc generally plane or 

at most weakly convex, rimmed by distinct thalline margin(←); spores distinctly 

warted ................................................................................ Pannaria pezizoides 

13b Thallus looser, lobes to some extent overlapping; apothecia sparse or abundant, 

disc plane or hemispherical, rimmed or not with thalline margin; spores apparently 

smooth ............................................................................................... 14 

14a Peripheral lobes averaging to more than 0.8 mm wide, convex upper surface; 

lobe margins often strongly white-felted ............................................................ 

........................................................... (shade form of) Pannaria praetermissa 

14b Peripheral lobes averaging to less than 0.6 mm wide; upper surface plane or 

convex; lobe margins never strongly white-felted ......................................... 15 

15a Growing directly over rock; upper surface convex; inland ........................... 

...................................................... “Parmeliella” cheiroloba (see page 91) 

15b Over bark or mossy rock; upper surface predominantly plane; hypermaritime 

............................................................. Pannaria laceratula (see lead 11b) 

7b Thallus isidiate or apparently isidiate; isidia erect and granular or long-cylindrical when 

mature ........................................................................................................................ 16 

16a Thallus resting on conspicuous black hypothallus; lobes mostly scalelike/isodiametric; 

over bark or moss in humid regions ................................... Parmeliella triptophylla 

16b Hypothallus absent or inconspicuous; lobes scalelike or elongate; habitat and distribution 

various, but never over bark ........................................................................ 17 

17a Upper surface pale greyish brown to almost black; lobe tips and/or “isidia” often 

soft-corticate or pale-felted (check sheltered lobes); forming dense mats completely 

obscuring substrate; spores 1-celled .............. Pannaria praetermissa aggregate 

17b Upper surface pale to more often dark medium brown (never blackish); lobe tips 

and “isidia” hard-corticate, never pale-felted; forming loose mats not usually completely 

obscuring substrate; spores 2-, 3- or 4-celled ....................... Massalongia 

Pannaria ahlneri P.M. Jørg. Map 65 

Roughened mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers in humid transition coast–intermontane forests at lower elevations; incompletely 

circumpolar, in N Am known only in BC. 


Contents: Terpenoids and unknown fatty acids (Jørgensen 1991). 

90

91 

PANNARIA 

“Parmeliella” cheiroloba Müll. Arg. Map 66 

Rock mouse 

Habitat/Range: Rare over exposed base-rich outcrops in intermontane localities at lower elevations; western N Am, 

N to BC, S to MT. 



Notes: The combination to Pannaria cheiroloba has yet to be made. The B.C. material is very similar to some forms 

of Pannaria praetermissa and may possibly be conspecific. 

Pannaria laceratula Hue Map 67 

Cushion mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over mossy conifers and mossy rock in open hypermaritime localities; tentatively western 

N Am – eastern Eurasia, N to AK, S to BC. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative, except hymenium I+ pale blue, gradually fading. 

Contents: Atranorin and various unknown fatty acids and terpenoids (P.M. Jørgensen, Bergen, pers. comm., 1993) 

Notes: The spores range in size to 18–20 x 10 μ. 

Pannaria leucostictoides Ohlsson Map 68 

Petalled mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers and deciduous trees in open coastal forests; western N Am, N to AK, S to 

CA. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative, except hymenium I+ pale blue, partly fading or becoming orange. 

Contents: Atranorin and various unknown fatty acids (Ohlsson 1973) and terpenoids. 

Notes: See the comments under P. rubiginosa. The type locality of this species is at Skidegate Lake on Moresby 

Island, B.C. 

Pannaria maritima P.M. Jørg. 

Seaside mouse 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over thin moss and rock in open coastal localities near upper tide mark, also infrequent at 

inland sites west of coast ranges; western N Am, S to OR. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative, except hymenium I+ pale blue, partly fading. 

Contents: Atranorin and unknown fatty acids (Jørgensen 1978). 

Notes: The type locality is at Terrace Beach, near Ucluelet, B.C. Though originally described as a strictly maritime 

lichen, material similar to P. maritima has been seen from several localities west of the coast ranges. The 

delimitation of P. maritima and P. praetermissa warrants further study. 

Pannaria mediterranea Tavares Map 69 

Blue-edged mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers and mossy rock or soil in sheltered intermontane and maritime localities at 

lower elevations; tentatively western N Am – western Eurasia, S to Or. 



Notes: Soil-dwelling specimens from the semi-arid intermontane are often abundantly covered in blue soredia and 

may be referred to P. cyanolepra Tuck. The taxonomic distinctness of this material is, however, questionable. 

Pannaria pezizoides (G.H. Weber) Trevisan 

Peacock mouse (auburn lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Common over moss in open sites throughout; circumpolar, S to CA, NM. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative, except hymenium I+ persistently strong blue. 

Contents: No lichen substances reported.

PANNARIA/PARMELIA 

Pannaria praetermissa Nyl. in Chyd. & Furuhj. aggregate 

Moss mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over (base-rich) mossy rock in open sites throughout, except apparently absent in 

hypermaritime regions; circumpolar, S to CA. 



Notes: The B.C. material assigned here to P. praetermissa is heterogenous and probably includes two or more taxa. 

Pannaria rubiginosa (Ach.) Bory Map 70 

Petalled mouse 

Habitat/Range: Rare over conifers in open coastal forests at lower elevations; incompletely circumpolar, S to NM. 

Reactions: Medulla PD+ orange or yellow, or rarely PD-; hymenium I+ persistently strong blue. 

Contents: (Pannarin.) 

Notes: PD- strains of P. rubiginosa lack chemical substances altogether. The similar P. leucostictoides, though also 

PD-, contains atranorin and various fatty acids and terpenoids. 

Pannaria “saubinetii ” (Mont.) Nyl. Map 71 

Pink-eyed mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers and deciduous trees in open, but humid, coastal forests at lower elevations; 

western N Am – western Eurasia, S to CA. 



Notes: The spores in the B.C. material range to 18–21 x 7.5–10 μ and are thus larger than European reports for this 

species: 15–17 x 5–6 μ (Jørgensen 1978). Probably a distinct taxon. 

PARMELIA 

Parmelia Ach. The Shield Lichens 

Medium stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, sorediate or isidiate or not, checkeredpseudocyphellate 

(ours), lobes loosely attached to rather closely appressed, elongate, averaging to 1.5–10 mm 

wide, thin. Upper surface whitish or pale greyish blue, somewhat shiny. Lower surface blackening, shiny, 

bearing short or rather long, simple or branched rhizines. Medulla white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia located over upper surface, disc brown; spores simple, ellipsoid, colourless, 8 per ascus. 

Over rock and trees. 

Common Name: Traditional. 

References: Goward and Ahti (1983); Hale (1987); Skult (1987). 

Notes: Parmelia is primarily a boreal and temperate genus consisting of 39 species worldwide. Eight of these are 

reported for North America and seven occur in B.C. As originally circumscribed by Acharius in 1803, Parmelia 

encompassed an enormous assemblage of foliose lichens, including Lobaria, Pannaria and Xanthoria. Beginning 

in the latter half of the 19th century, and apparently concluding only in the past decade, lichenologists have 

divided Parmelia into dozens of new genera, most of which are now widely accepted. Local species accommodated 

until recently in Parmelia are now dispersed among the following genera: Ahtiana, Arctoparmelia, 

Flavopunctelia, Hypotrachyna, Melanelia, Neofuscelia, Punctelia, and Xanthoparmelia. 

1a Soredia and isidia absent; over rock ........................................ Parmelia omphalodes 

2a 

(x4) 

1a 

(x3.5) 

3a 

(x4) 

1b Soredia and/or isidia present (rarely sparse); ecology various .................................. 2 

2a Thallus sorediate; soredia dull, confined to discrete soralia(←) ....Parmelia sulcata 

2b Thallus isidiate; isidia hard and shiny or occasionally with soft, cottony appearance 

but never associated with soralia ............................................................................ 3 

3a Rhizines side-branched/squarrose(←) when mature; restricted to coastal localities 

............................................................................................... Parmelia squarrosa 

3b Rhizines unbranched or at most sparsely forking/dichotomous; distribution various 

.............................................................................................................................. 4 

92


6b 

(x4) 

5b 

(x4) 


5a 

(x4) 

6a 

(x4) 

4a Isidia distinctly hard-corticate, often somewhat shiny, granular to long-cylindrical 

(in doubtful cases, check young isidia); medulla K- or K+ yellow becoming orange 

............................................................................................................................ 5 

5a Lobes more or less closely appressed, seldom overlapping; rhizines rather 

freely forking/dichotomous(←); over bark; medulla K- ....................................... 

................................................................................. Parmelia pseudosulcata 

5b Lobes often rather loosely attached and overlapping; rhizines mostly unbranched; 

over rock (rare over bark); medulla K+ yellow becoming orange .......................... 

............................................................................................. Parmelia saxatilis 

4b Isidia “soft”, not at all hard-corticate, never shiny, generally short and granular 

(but occasionally elongate in P. hygrophila); medulla K+ yellow becoming orange 

........................................................................................................................... 6 

6a Upper surface faintly yellowish; isidia mostly marginal(←), densely clustered; 

over rock; inland................................................................. Parmelia fraudans 

6b Upper surface pale bluish grey to more often greenish; isidia mostly restricted 

to upper surface(←), only rather weakly clustered; over bark (rare over rock); 

widespread in humid regions .......................................... Parmelia hygrophila 

Parmelia fraudans (Nyl.) Nyl. 

Green shield 

Habitat/Range: Frequent over acid rock in cool, somewhat sheltered inland localities; incompletely circumpolar, 

S to AZ. 

Reactions: Cortex K+ yellow, medulla K+ yellow becoming red, PD+ orange. 

Contents: Atranorin, protolichesterinic acid, salazinic acid, usnic acid (soredia only). 

Parmelia hygrophila Goward & Ahti 

Salted shield 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees in coastal and intermontane (ICH zone) forests, also rare over base-rich rock; 

western N Am, N to AK, S to OR. 


Contents: Atranorin and salazinic acid. 

Notes: The type locality is at Kokanee Creek, near Nelson, B.C. 

Parmelia omphalodes (L.) Ach. 

Unsalted shield (black crottle, corks, smoky shield lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over acid rock in open sites throughout; circumpolar, S to MT. 


Contents: Atranorin, protolichesterinic acid, salazinic acid. 

Notes: The B.C. material can be assigned to ssp. omphalodes (Skult 1987). 

Parmelia pseudosulcata Gyelnik 

(Syn. Parmelia kerguelensis auct., non Wilson) 

Salted shield 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers in lowland coastal forests, also rare in intermontane forests (ICH zone); 

western N Am, N to AK, S to CA. 

Reactions: Cortex K+ yellow, medulla PD+ orange to red. 

Contents: Atranorin, lobaric acid and protocetraric acid. 

Parmelia saxatilis (L.) Ach. 

Salted shield (crottle, boulder lichen, stane-raw) 

Habitat/Range: Common over acid rock in open sites throughout, also infrequent over conifers in open coastal 

forests; widespread; circumpolar. 

Reactions: Cortex K+ yellow, medulla K+ yellow becoming red, PD+ orange to red. 

Contents: Atranorin, lobaric acid and salazinic acid. 

93 

PARMELIA

PARMELIA/PARMELIELLIA 

Notes: Included under Parmelia saxatilis are two rather distinct morphologies that may deserve separate taxonomic 

recognition. These are distinguished as follows: 

1a Upper surface pale bluish grey (brownish where exposed), generally pale or concave; 

pseudocyphellae in netlike patterns throughout; isidia generally originating in part over upper 

surface .............................................................................................. Parmelia saxatilis 

1b Upper surface greenish (but turning yellowish in herbarium), often convex; pseudocyphellae 

generally confined to area of lobe tips; isidia tending at first to arise along lobe margins 

(though later also developing over upper surface) ........................................ Parmelia sp. 1 

Parmelia squarrosa Hale Map 72 

Salted shield 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over conifers in open coastal forests at lower elevations; incompletely circumpolar, S to CA. 



Parmelia sulcata Taylor 

Powdered shield (furrowed shield lichen, waxpaper lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees throughout, also infrequent over acid rock, circumpolar, N to AK, S to CA. 



PARMELIELLA 

Parmeliella Müll. Arg. The Mouse Lichens 

Minute to small stratified squamulose lichens (ours), corticate above, noncorticate below, isidiate (ours), 

squamules closely appressed, subrotund to elongate, averaging to 0.5–1 mm wide (ours), thin. Upper surface 

greyish brown, smooth. Lower surface pale, resting on dark hypothallus. Medulla white. Photobiont bluegreen. 

Apothecia unknown in B.C. material. 

Over trees and mossy rock. 

Reference: Jørgensen (1978). 

Common Name: Reflects the minute size and dull greyish brown colour of the species. 

Notes: Of the nine species of Parmeliella reported for North America, only one is known to occur in B.C. Parmeliella 

is closely related to Pannaria and differs primarily in the character of the apothecial rim, which is non-thalline 

(i.e., coloured differently from the upper surface) in the former genus and thalline in the latter. The taxonomic 

value of this distinction, however, is questionable. For points of distinction with similar lichens, see the key 

under Pannaria. 

Parmeliella triptophylla (Ach.) Müll. Arg. Map 73 

Fingered mouse 

Habitat/Range: Infrequent over trees and seasonally moistened mossy rock in humid localities at 

low elevations throughout, except probably absent from boreal regions; circumpolar, S to OR. 

Reactions: All spot tests negative, except hymenium I+ strong blue. 

Contents: No lichen substances present (P.M. Jørgensen, Bergen, pers. comm., 1993). 

(x15) 

94

PARMELIOPSIS 

Parmeliopsis (Nyl.) Nyl. The Starburst Lichens 

Small stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, sorediate, lobes closely appressed, elongatelinear 

to elongate, averaging to 1–2 mm wide, thin. Upper surface whitish grey or pale yellowish green, more or 

less shiny, especially at lobe tips. Lower surface pale brown to blackening, bearing short, simple rhizines. Medulla 

white. Photobiont green. 

Apothecia located over upper surface, disc brown; spores simple, sausage-shaped, colourless, 8 per ascus. 

Reference: Meyer (1982). 

Common Name: Describes the centrifugal growth pattern characteristic of the species. 

Notes: Parmeliopsis is a boreal–temperate genus consisting of three species worldwide. All of these occur in North 

America, though only two are present in B.C. 

2b 

(x5) 

2a 

(x5) 

Key to Parmeliopsis and Similar Lichens 

1a Upper surface yellowish or yellowish green; soredia present .................................... 2 

2a Over rock; upper surface generally shiny throughout; coastal; medulla K+ yellow, 

PD+ orange ................................................................... Xanthoparmelia mougeotii 

2b Over bark (very rare over rock); upper surface generally dull toward thallus centre 

when mature; widespread; medulla K-, PD- ......................... Parmeliopsis ambigua 

1b Upper surface whitish; soredia present or absent ..................................................... 3 

3a Isidia present over upper surface(←); soredia absent; over bark .............................. 

.................................................................................................. Imshaugia aleurites 

3b Isidia absent; soredia present; over bark or rock .................................................... 4 

4a Upper surface somewhat shiny near lobe tips; over acid bark; medulla KC+ rose . 

3a 

(x9) 

4b 

(x5) 

................................................................. Parmeliopsis hyperopta (see lead 2b) 

4b Upper surface dull near lobe tips; over base-rich bark or rock; medulla KC- ............. 

.................................................................................................................. Physcia 

Parmeliopsis ambigua (Wulfen in Jacq.) Nyl. 

(Syn. Foraminella ambigua (Wulfen in Jacq.) S.F. Meyer) 

Green starburst (sulphur-dust lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees and shrubs, especially conifers, also rare over rock, in open to shady forests 

throughout, except perhaps absent from hypermaritime localities; circumpolar, N to AK, S to NM. 

Reactions: Cortex KC+ yellow. 

Contents: Divaricatic and usnic acids. 

Parmeliopsis hyperopta (Ach.) Arnold 

(Syn. Foraminella hyperopta (Ach.) S.F. Meyer) 

Grey starburst (chalky shield lichen) 

Habitat/Range: Common over trees and shrubs, especially conifers, also rare over acid rock in open to shady 

forests throughout; circumpolar, N to AK, S to CO. 

Reactions: Cortex K+ yellow. 

Contents: Atranorin and divaricatic acid. 

95 

PARMELIOPSIS

74 MELANELIA Melanelia Essl. The Brown Lichens Small to ...

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