Kaernefeltia merrillii (Du Rietz) A. Thell & Goward, 1996
| Common name | Blackened Thornbush | Code: KAERMER
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|---|---|---|
| Field Characters | Fruticose to foliose shrubby chlorolichen. Thallus small (often < 1.5 cm long), olive black to brown. Typical morph is dichotomously branched, with angular to flattened, erect, stiff, thorny branches. A less common morph is broadly foliose, with wrinkled, laminally-pycnidiate lobes. Both are found in Alberta. Apothecia common, laminal to subterminal on branches. Vegetative propagules absent, but often with many short, spiny branches. Some sources may treat this under the genus Cetraria. | |
| Similar species |
Kaernefeltia californica: a lanky, clearly fruticose species with spiny branches, restricted to coastal regions and not known for Alberta.
Tuckermannopsis: the flattened, foliose morph may be confused with Tuckermannopsis, particularly T. orbata, but that species is pale brown and has marginal, prominant pycnidia. |
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| Ecology | Restricted range epiphyte on conifers. When found often abundant. Largely restricted to the lower mountains and foothills regions of Alberta, with disjunct boreal populations. Commonly co-occurs with Tuckermannopsis spp. and Vulpicida canadensis in open, dry forests | |
| Chemistry | Cortex and medulla K-, KC-, PD-, UV- (fatty acids including lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids and additional unknowns). | |
| Molecular support |
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| Links | ||
| Gallery |
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- Kaernefeltia merrillii, Jackman Flats Natural Area, BC
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- Kaernefeltia merrillii, Jackman Flats Natural Area, BC
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- Kaernefeltia merrillii, Kananaskis region, AB
