| Common name |
Tar-jelly Group |
| Code |
ENCHTEN grp. |
| Field Characters |
Small sized bipartite cyanolichen. Photobiont Nostoc, non-stratified. Thalli composed of relatively thick, rounded or undulating lobes generally ca. 2 mm diameter, olive black to brown, appressed to the substrate. Lobe edges distinctly swollen when hydrated, and thallus swelling greatly when moistened. A wide variety of forms are recognized as varieties, from almost crustose to erect and semi-fruticose. Lacking cellular cortices. Small lobules or globular isidia may be present. No tomentum or soredia. Lower surface smooth, black. Apothecia rare, but when present with a brown disc, irregular margin, and muriform, hyaline spores. |
Similar species & genera
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Collema (Enchylium) bachmanianium: many collections lack apothecia and then these species cannot be distinguished without molecular data. Collema bachmanianum has apothecia with a markely crenulate margin and brownish spores, while Collema tenax has an irregular margin and colorless (=hyaline) spores. |
| Ecology |
Terricolous, widely distributed and likely present in every natural region in Alberta. More commonly encountered in calcareous, arid open habitats including grasslands (prairie and mountain) and disturbed areas (urban habitats, Haughland et al. 2022). |
| Chemistry |
No substances detectable by spot tests or TLC. |
Molecular support
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