Lobaria
Lobaria (Schreb.) Hoffm., 1796
| Common name | Lung Lichens |
|---|---|
| Field Characters | Large, leafy tripartite cephalolichens or bipartite cyanolichens. Thalli of loosely-attached rounded to angular, oak-leaf-like lobes. Lobes often with regular depressions and ridges that also create corresponding patterns of tomentum on the lower surface. Cephalodia when present are often embedded within the thallus, and best visualized as small dark patches when wet. Upper cortex shiny to dull, may be scabrid or with tiny erect ‘hairs’, lacking pseudocyphellae, and varying from bright green to pale yellow to grey. Lower cortex varying from cream to brown, tomentose or not, rhizinate or not. Medulla white, loose to compact. Species typically sorediate and/or isidiate, with laminal or marginal soralia. Apothecia rare, when present with a thalline margin and laminal ubstipitate on the upper surface. |
| Similar genera |
Peltigera: lacks depressions and ridges, lacks lower cortex.
Nephroma: smaller lobes (> 2 cm wide), apothecia common and located on the lower surface. Solorina: terricolous, almost always fertile, with apothecia embedded centrally in the thallus. |
| Ecology | Epiphytic and on downed wood, more rarely on rock or ground-dwelling. Most common and diverse in Alberta’s mountain and foothills sites, with some species sporadic across the boreal as well. |
| Chemistry | Upper cortex K-, C-, KC-, P- (no detectable substances) or K-, C-, KC+ oily yellow, P- (usnic acid). Medulla K+ pale yellow or K-, C-, KC-, P- (some combination of ß-orcinol depsides or depsidones, triterpenes). |
| Molecular support |
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| Links |
Species recorded in Alberta: 4
- L. hallii (Tuck.) Zahlbr. Syn.: Sticta hallii (ACIMS)
- L. linita (Ach.) Rabenh. Syn.: Sticta linita (ACIMS)
- L. pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. Syn.: Sticta pulmonaria (ACIMS)
- L. scrobiculata (Scop.) DC. Syn.: Sticta verrucosa (ABMI, TG/DH Grande Cache, CB Grande Prairie)
DICHOTOMOUS KEY: Modified from Goward et al. 1994
1a. Bipartite, photobiont blue-green cyanobacteria; upper cortex grey, brown or yellowish; sorediate; lobes rounded; rare in Alberta…..2
1b. Tripartite, with dominant photobiont a green alga and Nostoc present in cephalodia; upper surface greenish, never scabrid; lobes angular….3
2a. Upper cortex greyish, usually with minute erect hairs, K+ strong yellow….Lobaria hallii
2b. Upper cortex green-grey-yellow; typically hairless, but scabrid, K- or K+ pale, oily yellow….Lobaria scrobiculata
3a. Isidia and/or soredia present; medulla K+Y to O; typically epiphytic (occasionally saxicolous) in montane, foothills and boreal forests…..Lobaria pulmonaria
3b. Isidia and soredia absent; medulla K-; typically terricolous at high elevations…..Lobaria linita
RENR Students: Know the species Lobaria pulmonaria – be able to key it out or recognize it (also covered in Brodo et al. 2001 and Goward et al. 1994).
Resources
McCune, B. & L. Geiser. 2009. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd edition. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR, USA.
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- Lobaria linita, Skagway, AK
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- Lobaria pulmonaria, Grande Prairie region, AB
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- Lobaria scrobiculata, east of Yellowknife, NWT
