Lichenizing with John and Connor

Back on May 26th and 27th John and Connor made their way up North for a lichenizing adventure. On the 26th we headed to a north facing cliff and talus slope in the area. It's amazing all the things that they were able to notice that I completely missed. We spent quite a few hours there and saw many cool species. Lots of rarer species for the area that are primarily restricted to similar habitats, many of which were a first for me. Powdery almond lichen (Amygdalaria panaeola) was one of my favorite. Although it's a white crustose lichen it is pretty distinctive and easy to ID. Thanks to the presence of cephalodia - the brown gall like structure interspersed about the lichen. The main photobiont of this species are green algae, but these cephalodia house cyanobacteria. Another rare, interesting one was pixie foam lichen (Stereocaulon pileatum). This one is rather small with stalks about 5mm tall, but up close was also rather distinct with abundant soredia on the stalk. Little emerald lichen (Myriospora smaragdula) was another easily missed, but quite distinctive species. 

Powdery almond lichen (Amygdalaria panaeola) - State Special Concern Species

Little emerald lichen (Myriospora smaragdula)

Pixie foam lichen (Stereocaulon pileatum) - State Special Concern Species

Ramalina labiosorediata - State Watchlist Species: Geographically Limited

Abrading ring lichen (Arctoparmelia subcentrifuga) State Special Concern Species 

The second day we spent our time at the Superior Site. Two species I had never seen at that specific site were ground frost lichen (Physconia muscigena) and Punctelia stictica. We also spent quite a bit of time looking for the population of false Russell's fishscale lichen (Psora pseudorussellii) that I found back in the winter. John had also seen that population a few years ago and said it is the only known population of it in northern MN to his knowledge. We failed to find the ones I saw after quite a while of searching, but did find a handful of very bleached, unhealthy looking ones on a different area on the rock. I went back out about a week later and found the ones seen in the winter after about two minutes, and they were looking very healthy. 

False Russell's fishscale lichen (Psora pseudorussellii) - very sparse and dying on this rock 

False Russell's fishscale lichen (Psora pseudorussellii) - fairly abundant and healthy on this rock

Psora globifera is relatively uncommon but more abundant at this site and grows next to P. pseudorussellii

Ground frost lichen (Physconia muscigena) - Stae Watchlist Species: Insufficient Information

Punctelia stictica - State Endangered Species 

Earlier this week I also made my way to a waterfall in the area and found shag-belly stippleback lichen (Dermatocarpon moulinsii) and some other species. 

Shag-belly stippleback lichen (Dermatocarpon moulinsii) - State Endangered Species

Blackthread lichen (Placynthium nigrum)

Unknown lichenicolous fungi on sulphur firedot lichen (Gyalolechia flavovirescens)

The fungi was fairly common











 






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