Cetraria
Cetraria Ach., 1803
| Common name | Icelandmoss Lichens |
|---|---|
| Field Characters | Small to large, chlorolichens, fruticose or foliose. In Alberta, species are erect, with limited attachments to the substrate, and composed of thorny to leafy branching thalli. Cortices bronze, greenish brown, dark brown to almost black. In the foliose species (that often appear fruticose), the cortices are colored alike, but one surface has pseudocyphellae. Lacking rhizines, but often with knobby to spiny marginal pycnidia, or cilia. Apothecia uncommon, when present along the lobe margins and concolorous with the thallus.
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| Similar species & genera |
The taxonomy of this group has fluctuated a great deal, with species concepts remaining relatively stable, but genera changing constantly. See Kaernefeltia, Tuckermannopsis Cetrariella, Flavocetraria and Vulpicida for species that have historically (or for some authors presently) been placed in Cetraria. Here we have adopted the circumscription outlined in Esslinger (2021). |
| Ecology | Largely terricolous, in open, arid and exposed ecosystems. Some species are more widely distributed and can be found on downed wood. |
| Chemistry | Aliphatic acids and/or ß-orcinol depsidones detectable by TLC, or in some cases by spot testing with PD (medulla PD+ red or PD-). |
| Molecular support |
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| Links |
Species/subspecies recorded in Alberta: 9. Some of these like C. muricata require additional research to verify their presence and better our ability to discriminate them effectively.
- C. aculeata (Schreber) Fr. Syn.: Coelocaulon aculeatum, Cornicularia aculeata
- C. arenaria Kärnefelt
- C. ericetorum Opiz subsp. ericetorum
- C. ericetorum subsp. reticulata (Räsänen) Kärnefelt
- C. islandica (L.) Ach. subsp. islandica
- C. islandica subsp. crispiformis(Räsänen) Kärnefelt
- C. laevigata Rass.
- C. muricata (Ach.) Eckfeldt Syn.: Coelocaulon muricatum
- C. nigricans Nyl.
Click here for pdf key to Alberta’s Cetraria v2025
