Platismatia
Platismatia (L.) W.L. Culb. & C.F. Culb., 1968
| Common name | Rag Lichens |
|---|---|
| Field Characters | Large, foliose chlorolichens. Relatively minimal attachments, forming frilly, wavy erect thalli. Grey to brownish grey upper cortex, lower cortex mostly black, mottled with pale patches. Isidia and soredia common, apothecia rare. Rhizines sparse, scattered, |
| Similar species & genera |
Punctelia: thalli more adnate, with relatively abundant, uniform rhizines, lacking isidia. |
| Ecology | Largely epiphytic, mostly on conifers, occasionally on rocks or downed wood. Common in the foothills and mountains in Alberta, occasional to rare across the boreal, rare in the shield. Absent from parkland and grassland sites. Most abundant in mature to old growth white spruce and pine forests. |
| Chemistry | In Alberta, we have one species with the following chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P+ yellow (atranorin, chloroatranorin). Medulla K-, C-, KC-, P-, UV- (caperatic acid). |
| Molecular support |
|
| Links |
Species recorded in Alberta: 1
- P. glauca (L.) W. L. Culb.. & C. F. Culb. Syn.: Cetraria glauca (ACIMS, ABMI)
RENR Students: Know Platismatia glauca– be able to key this species out or recognize it (it is also covered in Brodo et al. 2001 and Goward et al. 1994).
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.
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.
