In Search of a Name for a Lichen
Lichen
I’m in search for the name for a species of lichen found and photographed in the Ancient Forest, an inland wet belt rain forest found in northern BC. along the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16). More information about this site can be found at http://wetbelt.unbc.ca/Inland-Rainforests.htm It is the subject of my current art piece and I would like to know more about it.
A friend has comment that it is one of the many umbilicate lichens – I’m learning new terminology! I’ve found the following info that seems to describe this lichen:
“Foliose lichens are somewhat leaf-like, composed of lobes. They are relatively loosely attached to their substrates, usually by means of rhizines. Their lobes have upper and lower sides and usually grow more-or-less parallel to the substrate. Umbilicate lichens are attached to their substrate only at a central point.”
However any of the foliose lichens I have researched seemed to be very green in color.
Not knowing a lot about lichens, my search for information has been a bit frustrating. After browsing through The Lichens of British Columbia I have marked the following possibilities but the drawings were small and not detailed – no photos:
- Peltigera degenii
- Peltigera kristinssonii ***
- Peltigera rufescens ******
- Umbilicaria lyngei ******
- Umbilicaria proboscidea******
On another site, the lobaria family look like candidates, especially lobaria oregana or lettuce lichen, but the picture indicates very green and not white lobes.
I’m not even sure of the wood in the background. Is it cedar? Probably. Or is it Cottonwood? Figuring this out might help. I do remember that the lichen and the downed tree were located on the edge of a small waterway (sloping area) and there was lots of moisture in the area. The trees are tall, and very old, in the area but there was a very small opening that let light in near the stream (maybe 6 feet across).
Any help that my readers can give me on this would be appreciated.
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