Leptogium & Scytinium
Leptogium (Ach.) Gray, 1821 group, including Scytinium (Ach.) Gray, 1821
| Common name | Vinyl Lichens |
|---|---|
| Field Characters | Small to medium sized bipartite cyanolichens previously or currently included in the more inclusive concept of the genus Leptogium. Photobiont Nostoc, non-stratified, generally foliose, with defined cortices. Olive black to brown, appressed to the substrate to ascending and sparsely attached. Lobes smooth to wrinkled, with or without isidia. Tomentum may be present, ranging from patches on the upper cortex to a dense coat on the lower surface. Apothecia rare in most species, common in others. |
| Similar species & genera |
Collema group: lacks defined cortices, lacks tomentum or if present then vary sparse. |
| Ecology | Occasional on bark, wood, moss, rock or soil, depending on the species. Different species found across all of Alberta’s natural regions, with the highest diversity typically in mountain sites with exposed rock and boulders. |
| Chemistry | No substances detectable by spot tests or TLC. |
| Molecular support |
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| Links |
9 species across 2 genera known from Alberta.
Leptogium species recorded in Alberta: 2, but unpublished data suggests there are at least two species in our current understanding of L. saturninum; more work is needed.
- Leptogium pseudofurfuraceum P.M. Jørg. & A.K. Wallace, syn. L. furfuraceum (in NE)
- Leptogium saturninum s.l. (Dickson) Nyl. *Includes a cryptic but genetically distinct lineage
Scytinium species recorded in Alberta: 7.
- Scytinium gelatinosum (With.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 (BC, Montana) Syn. Leptogium gelatinosum, L. sinuatum, L. scotinum
- Scytinium intermedium (Arnold) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 (Washington, Idaho, Ontario) Syn. Leptogium minutissimum ssp. intermedium
- Scytinium lichenoides (L.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 Syn. Leptogium lichenoides
- Scytinium pulvinatum (Hoffm.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 Syn. Leptogium pulvinatum
- Scytinium subtile (Schrader) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 Syn. Leptogium subtile, L. perminutum, L. minutissimum
- Scytinium tenuissimum (Dickson) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 Syn. Leptogium tenuissimum, L. lividofuscum, L. nanum, L. biatorinum
- Scytinium teretiusculum (Wallr.) Otálora, P. M. Jørg. & Wedin, 2013 Syn. Leptogium teretiusculum, L. intricatulum
Click here for a key to the Leptogium & Scytinium known for Alberta v. 2025
