Melanohalea septentrionalis (Lynge) O. Blanco, A. Crespo, Divakar, Essl., D. Hawksw. & Lumbsch, 2004
| Common name | Northern Camouflage Lichen |
|---|---|
| Code | MELASEP |
| Field Characters | Small foliose chlorolichens. Thalli appressed to the substrate, but lifting slightly at the lobe edges. Colonies can be as large as a human hand. Cortex greenish brown to reddish brown, ranging from smooth and shiny to slightly wrinkled and somewhat dull. Pseudocyphellae sparse aor inconspicuous. Apothecia common, appearing broad, flat, and shiny, and often abundant on the thallus. Soredia and isidia not observed. |
| Similar species & genera |
Melanohalea trabeculata: Another common species of this genus that is superficially similar, but the medulla is PD+light yellow or PD-, and K+yellow (norstictic acid), while M. septentrionalis is PD+orange to red and K- or K+dingy brown (fumarprotocetraric acid)
Melanohalea olivacea: Rare in Alberta, but with a similar appearance and cortex chemistry as M. septentrionalis, with slightly larger lobes and apothecia. Typically need anotomical measurements on the apothecia to differentiate. |
| Ecology | On bark of deciduous and coniferous trees. Widespread throughout the forested regions of Alberta. |
| Chemistry | Medulla PD+orange to red, UV-, K-, KC-, C- (fumarprotocetraric acid). |
| Molecular support |
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