Heterodermia galactophylla

Common name	Milky-skin Centipede Lichen	Code: HETEGAL Heterodermia galactophylla close-up showing finely striate cortex, ABMI collection
Field Characters	Small to medium sized leafy chlorolichens. Pale, loosely appressed to ascending thalli with lobes that branch regularly and broaden near the lobe tips. Besides being finely striate, the upper cortex is typically dull, milky white to greenish white to browned. Lower cortex abent, exposing medullary hyphae. Soralia terminal, on the underside of hooded or labriform lobe tips. Apothecia unknown. The margins are thyrisiform-ciliate (branching three or more times), pale near where they arise from the lobe and darkening distally.
Similar species & genera	Heterodermia japonica: squarrose rhizines that are dark throughout and predominantly marginal soralia.
Ecology	Epiphytic, often on the trunks of mature poplar or willow or the twigs of conifers. Occasional across the boreal region, rare in other forested ecoregions.
Chemistry	Upper cortex K+yellow, PD- or PD+ pale yellow, KC-, C-, UV- (atranorin). Medulla all spot tests negative, with zeorin and unidentified terpenes that form a characteristic pattern in thin layer chromatography.
Molecular support
Links	ABMI Biodiversity Browser Consortium of Lichen Herbaria Ways of Enlichenment Photo Gallery
Gallery