Phaeophyscia
Phaeophyscia Moberg, 1977
| Common name | Shadow Lichens | |
|---|---|---|
| Field Characters | Small, narrow-lobed, foliose chlorolichens. Thalli variable, from sparsely attached to attached throughout, from disparate lobes to forming large orbicular thalli and extensive colonies. Lobes typically < 2 mm across, branching regularly, equal in width throughout. Upper cortex grey to brown, sometimes with small, hyaline hairs particulary near the lobe tips or on vegetative propagules. Medulla white, in some species orange to red. Soralia common, varying from laminal and orbicular, to marginal and granular, to terminal and labriform. Lower cortex typically black, in some species pale. Rhizines typically abundant, sometimes sparse, simple but well developed to sparsely squarrose in some species, typically black with white tips. Apothecia rare in most species, occasional in others, and very common in a few, with a dark disk, thalline margin concolorous with the upper cortex, and a fringe of hairs. | |
| Similar species & genera |
Physcia: lower cortex pale to brown, rhizines typically simple and concolorous with lower cortex. Upper cortex K+ yellow (atranorin). | |
| Ecology | Variable; most species are epiphytic or on downed wood, some are terricolous, and a few saxicolous. Some species are restricted to grassland or alpine habitats, others are rare in the mountains, and a handful of species common across the forested regions. | |
| Chemistry | Upper cortex all spot tests negative (no substances detected). Medulla variable, from all spot tests negative to K+ purple in species with orange medulla (anthraquinones). | |
| Molecular support |
In progress, as part of work by Esslinger and Leavitt to better delineate Physciaceae in North America. | |
| Links |
Species recorded in Alberta: 12
- P. adiastola (Essl.) Essl. Syn.: Physcia adiastola ACIMS, ABMI
- P. ciliata (Hoffm.) Moberg Syns.: Physcia ciliata, P. obscura auct. ACIMS, ABMI
- P. constipata (Norrlin & Nyl.) Moberg Syn.: Physcia constipata ACIMS, ABMI
- P. decolor (Kashiw.) Essl.ACIMS -Rockies (BROD01)
- P. endococcina (Körber) Moberg Syns.: Physcia endococcina, P. lithotodes, (?) P. columbiana ACIMS
- P. hirsuta (Mereschk.) Essl. Syn.: Physcia hirsuta, Phaeophyscia cernohorskyi (Esslinger 2004b) ACIMS, ABMI
- P. hispidula (Ach.) Essl. Syns.: Physcia hispidula, P. setosa ACIMS, ABMI
- P. kairamoi (Vainio) Moberg Syn.: Physcia kairamoi AB ! (NA)
- P. nigricans (Flörke) Moberg Syn.: Physcia nigricans ACIMS
- P. orbicularis (Necker) Moberg Syn.: Physcia orbicularis, P. virella ACIMS, ABMI
- P. pusilloides (Zahlbr.) Essl. Syn.: Physcia pusilloides AB! (NA)
- P. sciastra (Ach.) Moberg Syns.: Physcia sciastra, P. lithotea ACIMS
Click here for a pdf key to the Phaeophyscia of Alberta v. 2025
RENR Students: Know Phaeophyscia constipata and P. orbicularis– be able to key these species out or recognize them. Note that Goward et al. 1994 does not cover P. decolor or P. pusilloides while Brodo et al. 2001 does not cover P. endococcina, P. kairamoi, and P. nigricans.
Resources
Brodo, I. M. 2016. Keys to the lichens of North America. Revised and Expanded. Yale University Press, in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.
Esslinger, T. L. 1978. Studies in the lichen family Physciaceae. II The genus Phaeophyscia in North America. Mycotaxon 7: 283-320.
Esslinger, T. L. 2004. Phaeophyscia. – In T.H. Nash III, B.D. Ryan, C. Gries and F. Bungartz (eds), Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region Volume 2: 403-414.
Esslinger, T.L. 2016a. Key to Phaeophyscia and Physciella species in North America. March 2016, unpublished.
Goward, T., B. McCune, and D. Meidinger. 1994. The Lichens of British Columbia Illustrated Keys. Part 1 – Foliose and Squamulose Species. Ministry of Forests Research Program, Province of British Columbia.
