Xanthomendoza & Xanthoria
Xanthomendoza S.Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt, 1997 & Xanthoria (Fr.) Th. Fr., 1861, including species recently segregated into the genera Polycauliona Hue, 1908 and Rusavskia S.Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt, 2003
| Common name | Sunburst Lichens | |
|---|---|---|
| Field Characters | Small to medium sized, leafy chlorolichens. Lobes narrow, often attached to their substrate throughout, sometimes ascending or becoming almost fruticose. Upper surface yellow-orange to bright orange, rarely in shade forms almost lacking orange coloration, dull, lacking pseudocyphellae. Lower surface white, varying from almost crustose to intact and with short, peg-like hapters to abundantly rhizinate. Species typically sorediate or apotheciate, rarely both. Xanthoria is very similar to Xanthomendoza but Xanthoria has hapters (peg-like lower attachments) and ellipsoid conidia, while Xanthomendoza has well developed rhizines and bacilliform conidia (usually), as well as typically developing cilia-like projections from the margins of mature apothecia. | |
| Similar species & genera |
Candelaria: K- cortex. | |
| Ecology | Most species in Alberta are epiphytic or on downed wood, a few are saxicolous. Species can be found across Alberta, often in open or nitrogen-rich environments including urban landscapes (Haughland et al. 2022). | |
| Chemistry | Upper cortex PD-, K+ purple, C-, KC- (but difficult to discern due to K+ purple), UV- (variety of anthraquinones). Medulla typically white with all spot tests negative. | |
| Molecular support |
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| Links |
Xanthomendoza species recorded in Alberta: 4 are confirmed but at least 5 more are possible.
Confirmed species:
- Xanthomendoza fallax (Hepp ex Arnold) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria fallax (Søchting et al. 2002) (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthomendoza fulva (Hoffm.) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria fulva (Søchting et al. 2002) (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthomendoza hasseana (Räsänen) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria hasseana (Søchting et al. 2002) (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthomendoza montana (L. Lindblom) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria montana (Søchting et al.
2002) (ACIMS)
Additional species requiring confirmation:
- Xanthomendoza borealis (R. Sant. & Poelt) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria borealis (Søchting et al. 2002) (BC, NWT, [LIND08])
- Xanthomendoza galericulata L. Lindblom (Lindblom 2006) (Northern US, [LIND05])
- Xanthomendoza mendozae (Räsänen) S. Kondr. & Kärnefelt Syn.: Xanthoria mendozae (Lindblom 2004a) (LIND97)
- Xanthomendoza oregana (Gyelnik) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria oregana (Søchting et al. 2002) (BC [LIND97])
- Xanthomendoza ulophyllodes (Räsänen) Søchting, Kärnefelt & S. Kondr. Syn.: Xanthoria ulophyllodes (Søchting et al. 2002) (BC, NWT, MB [LIND97])
Xanthoria species recorded or with high likelihood of occurring in Alberta: 6, including the newly documented (and perhaps the only introduced lichen in Alberta) Xanthoria parietina
- Xanthoria ascendens S. Kondr. (Lindblom in NASH04; reported in Idaho by T. Nash [NA])
- Xanthoria candelaria (L.) Th. Fr. Syn.: Teloschistes candelarius, Polycauliona candelaria (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr. Syn.: Caloplaca elegans, Rusavskia elegans (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. Syn.: Teloschistes parietinus (Haughland et al. 2022)
- Xanthoria polycarpa (Hoffm.) Th. Fr. ex Rieber Syn.: Teloschistes polycarpus, Polycauliona polycarpa (ACIMS, ABMI)
- Xanthoria sorediata (Vainio) Poelt Syn.: Caloplaca sorediata, Rusavskia sorediata
RENR Students: Know Xanthomendoza fallax, X. hasseana/montana and Xanthoria elegans – be able to key these species out or recognize them (they are 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.
Haughland, D. L., A. Hood, D. Thauvette, S. A. Toni, M. Cao, J. D. Birch, J. Wasyliw, L. Hjartarson, M. Villeneuve, A. Stordock, D. A. Fielder, M. Lewis, D. Evans, D. Royko, R. Bolduc, H. Webster, J. D. Singh, K. A. Schafer, S. Goyette, H. E. Davidson & C. Shier. 2022. Getting to know our neighbours: 108 urban lichens of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and an initial assessment of their utility as community-science indicators. Opuscula Philolichenum 21: 33-181. https://www.nhm2.uio.no/botanisk/lav/RLL/PDF/R43924.pdf
Lindblom, L. 1997. The genus Xanthoria (Fr.) Th.Fr. in North America. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 83: 75-172.
Lindblom, L. 2004a. Xanthomendoza. Pages 583-588. In T. H. Nash, B. D. Ryan, P. Diederich, C. Gries, 8c F. Bungartz (editors) Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol. 2. Lichens Unlimited, Tempe, AZ.
Lindblom, L. 2004b. Xanthoria. Pages 627-633. In T. H. Nash, B. D. Ryan, P. Diederich, C. Gries, 8c F. Bungartz (editors) Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol. 2. Lichens Unlimited, Tempe, AZ.
Lindblom, L. 2006. Xanthomendoza galericulata, a new sorediate lichen species, with notes on similar species in North America. The Bryologist 109: 1-8.
