365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
"Inactive" Lichens
Day 132: In another venue, the lichen photo I posted yesterday sparked quite a discussion of where the "inactiva" part of the scientific name originated (Hypogymnia inactiva is also called "Inactive Tube Lichen" in some references, but Brodo is the recognized authority, so I have used "Mottled Tube Lichen" as the common name). I did some digging and found out that "inactive" lichens are those which can survive long periods of dry and/or cold weather. Growth ceases during stressful conditions and resumes only when sufficient warmth and moisture are available. It is always good to understand the taxonomy.
Here is another specimen of Hypogymnia inactiva showing the typical brownish-yellow apothecia fully open. It is growing on a downed limb of Red Alder (Alnus rubrum).
Labels:
"inactiva",
Brodo,
Hypogymnia inactiva,
lichens,
Mottled Tube Lichen,
taxonomy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment