Day 52: A number of very similar tube lichens grow in the Pacific Northwest, and a dissecting microscope and chemical testing may be needed to differentiate them. For the most part, the Hypogymnias feel somewhat like fragments of balloon, i.e. rubbery and limp, and will stretch significantly without tearing. The lobes are hollow, as can be seen in many cases by close observation of the tips (upper left). The lower surface is black, and the upper surface may be flecked with black pycnidia as well. The apothecia are generally large and obvious, and may be perforated at the center (lower right). The Hypogymnias occur commonly on conifers including Douglas fir. Absence of smaller lobules along the margins of the main lobes suggests that this specimen from Longmire is Hypogymnia apinnata (as opposed to H. enteromorpha which exhibits that characteristic).
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.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Totally Tubular
Day 52: A number of very similar tube lichens grow in the Pacific Northwest, and a dissecting microscope and chemical testing may be needed to differentiate them. For the most part, the Hypogymnias feel somewhat like fragments of balloon, i.e. rubbery and limp, and will stretch significantly without tearing. The lobes are hollow, as can be seen in many cases by close observation of the tips (upper left). The lower surface is black, and the upper surface may be flecked with black pycnidia as well. The apothecia are generally large and obvious, and may be perforated at the center (lower right). The Hypogymnias occur commonly on conifers including Douglas fir. Absence of smaller lobules along the margins of the main lobes suggests that this specimen from Longmire is Hypogymnia apinnata (as opposed to H. enteromorpha which exhibits that characteristic).
Labels:
apothecia,
Hypogymnia apinnata,
Longmire,
microscopy,
MORA,
pycnidia,
tube lichens
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