The lichens of British Columbia, Illustrated keys, Part 2 - Fruticose Species

326 Pages·1999·7.286 MB·English

by  Trevor Goward

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T
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T L
T HE ICHENS OF
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E 1999 Illustrated Keys
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S Part 2 — Fruticose Species
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by Trevor Goward
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Ministry of Forests Research Program
T L
HE ICHENS OF
B C
RITISH OLUMBIA
Illustrated Keys
Part 2 — Fruticose Species
by Trevor Goward
(Illustrations by Trevor Goward)
Ministry of Forests Research Program
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Goward, Trevor
The lichens of British Columbia, illustrated keys.
Part 2, Fruticose Species
(Special report series, ISSN0843–6452 ; 9)
Includes bibliographical references, p.
Includes index.
ISBN0–7726–3961–2
1. Lichens – British Columbia – Identification.
2. Lichens – British Columbia – Geographic
distribution. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Forests.
Research Branch. II. Title. III. Series: Special report
series (British Columbia Ministry of Forests) ; 9
QK587.7.B7G68 1999 579.7’09711 C99 – 960259 – 4
Prepared by
Trevor Goward
Herbarium, Department of Botany
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC  
Mailing Address:
Edgewood Blue, Box 131
Clearwater, BC  
for
B.C. Ministry of Forests
Research Branch
712 Yates Street
Victoria, BC  
© 1999 Province of British Columbia
Copies of this report may be obtained, depending upon supply, from:
Crown Publications
521 Fort Street
Victoria, BC  
[phone]
www.crownpub.bc.ca
For more information on Forestry Division publications, visit our web site at:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/index.htm
LICHENS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PART 2 – FRUTICOSE SPECIES ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This manual has been four years in the Rydholm tested the keys; Irwin Brodo,
making. During that time, it has benefit- François Lutzoni, Eric B. Peterson, and
ted from the kindness of many people. In Bruce Ryan provided unpublished data on
particular, I wish to thank five colleagues lichen distribution in the western United
—Teuvo Ahti, Irwin Brodo, Stephen States; Mikhail Zhurbenko augmented my
Clayden, Pekka Halonen, and Hiroyuki understanding of lichen distribution in
Kashiwadani—for entering into co- eastern Eurasia; and André Arsenault,
authorship on treatments of Cladina, Robert Bringhurst, Irwin Brodo, Dennis
Cladonia, Stereocaulon, Usnea, and Fafard, Bruce McCune, Don McKay,
Ramalina. I also wish to thank the follow- Roger Rosentreter, Evelyn Schimmel,
ing specialists for reviewing earlier drafts Steve and Sylvia Sharnoff, and Jan Zwicky
of other critical genus accounts: Irwin all helped to pry open the Pandora’s box
Brodo (Alectoria, Bryoria), Håkon Holien of common names. To all of the above, I
(Calicium, Chaenotheca, Microcalicium, extend my deepest gratitude.
Sclerophora), Scott Kroken (Letharia), I also express thanks to: Lyle Ottenbreit
Scott LaGreca (Ramalina), Leif Tibell and Dan Bashaw for bringing the maps
(Chaenothecopsis), Tor Tønsberg (Gyali- and figures to camera-ready; Susan
deopsis, Microlychnus, Szczawinskia), Bannerman, Bruce Maricle, Vivian Miao,
and Mats Wedin (Bunodophoron, Anna Roberts, and Steve Smith for
Sphaerophorus). In addition, several English edit and proofreading; Donna
lichenologists have willingly shared their Lindenberg for typesetting; Rick Scharf for
taxonomic expertise: Teuvo Ahti, Othmar carrying the manuscript through to publi-
Breuss, Irwin Brodo, Aino Henssen, Per cation; and Paul Nystedt for cheerfully
Magnus Jørgensen, Scott Kroken, Scott juggling many balls in the air at the same
LaGreca, Bruce McCune, Juoko Rikkinen, time.
Roger Rosentreter, Steve Selva, Leif Tibell, Evelyn Hamilton, of the British
Tor Tønsberg, and Mats Wedin. Columbia Ministry of Forests, deserves
In addition: Olivia Lee, of the University special thanks for supporting this project
of British Columbia, packaged, labelled, in many ways throughout its gestation—
sorted, and forwarded lichen specimens not least by funding it through the British
by the thousands; Dan Burgess, Nathalie Columbia Forest Renewal Fund (FRBC).
Djan-Chékar, David Miège, Carla For supplementary funding through the
Rydholm, and Patrick Williston helped British Columbia Conservation Data
to prepare the distribution maps; Irwin Centre (CDC), I also thank Andrew
Brodo, Stephen Clayden, Bernard Harcombe.
Goffinet, and Tor Tønsberg subjected sev- Finally, this book is fondly dedicated to
eral specimens to thin-layer chromatogra- two eminent lichenologists: Teuvo Ahti, of
phy; Stephen Clayden, Bernard Goffinet, the University of Helsinki, and Irwin
Stuart Harris, Olivia Lee, Vivian Miao, Brodo, of the Canadian Museum of
Roger Rosentreter, Wilf Schofield, and Nature. Many thanks, my friends, for all
Émannuël Sérusiaux responded to urgent you have done.
pleas for literature; Tyler Innes and Carla
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Interpreting the Genus and Species Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Understanding Biogeoclimatic Zonation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Identifying Lichens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Making Use of Lichen Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A Note on Common Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Keys to Genera of Fruticose Macrolichens and Microlichens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Key to Lichen Photobionts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Key to Lichen Growth Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Key A: Fruticose Macrolichens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Key B: “Calicioid” Lichens (and others). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Key C: Fruticose Microlichens (and others). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Keys to Species of Fruticose Macrolichens and Microlichens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Acroscyphus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Agrestia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Alectoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Baeomyces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Bryocaulon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Bryoria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Bunodophoron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Calicium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Chaenotheca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Chaenothecopsis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Cladina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Cladonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Coelocaulon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cornicularia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Cystocoleus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Dactylina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Dibaeis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Ephebe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Evernia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Gyalideopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Leciophysma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Lempholemma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Leprocaulon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Letharia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Lichinella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Lichinodium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Loxosporopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Microcalicium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Microlychnus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Mycocalicium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Niebla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Nodobryoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Phaeocalicium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
LICHENS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PART 2 – FRUTICOSE SPECIES iv
Pilophorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Polychidium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Pseudephebe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Racodium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ramalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Sclerophora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Siphula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Sphaerophorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Spilonema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Stenocybe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Stereocaulon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Sticta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Synalissa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Szczawinskia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Teloschistes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Thamnolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Thermutis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Tholurna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Usnea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Zahlbrucknerella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Unknown 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Unknown 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Unknown 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Appendix 1 Distribution maps of rare and infrequent fruticose lichens
in British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Appendix 2 Excluded species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Glossary and Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
TABLES
1 Distributional units and their definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 Summary information on the biogeoclimatic zones of British Columbia. . . . . . . . 7
FIGURES
1 First- and second-order lichen floristic studies in British Columbia to 1998.. . . . . 1
2 “Life zones” of British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 Biogeoclimatic zones of British Columbia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4 Thallus stratified/heteromerous (cross-section). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5 Thallus nonstratified/homoiomerous (cross-section, in part). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
6 Common photobionts (free-growing/unlichenized forms). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7 Organs of attachment (cross-section). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
8 Branching and degrees of attachment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
9 Growth forms (cross-section and surface view, in part).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
10 Surface (and other) details: foliose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
11 Surface (and other) details: fruticose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
12 Spores and conidia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
13 Sexual and asexual reproductive structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
14 Vegetative reproductive structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
CONTENTS v

INTRODUCTION
Our knowledge of lichen floristics in of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
British Columbia has advanced rapidly in “global redlist of lichens” (Thor 1996:
recent years. Only three decades ago, the www.dha.slu.se/guest/global.htm). Several
known British Columbia lichen flora other species may already be at risk of
stood at 569 species (Otto and Ahti 1967). extirpation in the province (Goward
Today, by contrast, it stands at approxi- 1996). Reflecting these concerns, the
mately 1300 species (Noble et al. 1987; British Columbia Conservation Data
Goward, unpublished). Notwithstanding Centre has recently initiated a preliminary
this impressive figure, a comprehensive tracking list of the province’s “red-listed”
inventory of the province’s lichen flora is and “blue-listed” lichens.
still a long way off. In support of this Few portions of the province have
claim, consider that more than 20 lichen received serious attention from lichenolo-
species, on average, are added to the gists. To date, comprehensive lichen stud-
provincial lichen flora each year! ies have been carried out only on
A significant number of lichen species southeast Vancouver Island (Noble 1982)
warrant formal designation as “rare” or and the Queen Charlotte Islands (Brodo
“infrequent” in British Columbia. To 1995; Brodo and Ahti 1996; Brodo and
date, four such species carry official Santesson 1997; Brodo and Wirth 1998).
endangerment status in Canada (Goward The lichen flora of Wells Gray Park is also
et al. 1998), while one species appears on relatively well documented (Goward and
the International Union for Conservation Ahti 1992; Goward, unpublished).
FIRST ORDER
1.Brodo
(in prep.)
2.Goward, Ahti 6
(1992)
3.Noble (1982)
(Bird, Bird
6
1973) 6
(Ryan 1991) 6
SECOND ORDER
4. Benton, Brodo, Richardson (1977)
6
5. Brodo (unpublished)
6. Goward (unpublished)
7. Goward, Schofield (1983)
8. Ohlsson (unpublished)
9. Otto (unpublished)
10. Thomson, Ahti (1994)
FIGURE1 First- and second-order lichen floristic studies in British Columbia to 1998.

INTRODUCTION
Important collections from other regions examination under a light microscope;
do exist (Figure 1), but have not been fortunately, most such species are small
published, and are widely scattered. and inconspicuous, and are unlikely to be
Lichen study in British Columbia has encountered by the beginner.
traditionally been hampered by a lack of The genus and species concepts adopted
comprehensive keys to the species. here are often pragmatic. As a rule, they
Recently, however, Goward et al. (1994) give priority to “intuitive” morphological
published illustrated keys to 327 species of groupings that do not always accord with
foliose and squamulose lichens. The pres- the latest findings of anatomical and molec-
ent manual is a companion volume to ular research. This approach proceeds from
that work; it provides illustrated keys to the assumption that laboratory research
309 species of fruticose lichens (and allied will continue to uncover evolutionary rela-
fungi) that are known from or expected to tionships not readily perceived in the field.
occur in British Columbia. Looking ahead, two parallel approaches to
This manual adopts a broad interpreta- lichen taxonomy can be expected to evolve:
tion of the fruticose life form. Included one that emphasizes taxonomic stability,
here are all lichen genera—both macro- and is suited to the requirements of lichen
lichens and microlichens—in which a floristics and field ecology; and one that
majority of species bear stalks or branches emphasizes phylogenetic relatedness, and is
that are roughly circular in cross-section. suited to continuing molecular, chemical,
Although fruticose microlichens are tradi- and ultrastructural studies. Although this
tionally regarded as crustose, they are manual follows the first of these approach-
included here owing to their dominant es, alternative genus and species concepts
stalked sexual or asexual reproductive are given in the synonymy under the
structures. Examples of fruticose micro- accepted species.
lichens include Calicium, Chaenotheca, Accompanying the keys are 320 line
Gyalideopsis, and Microlychnus. drawings intended to convey species con-
Two primary objectives have guided cepts based on typical material. The draw-
the preparation of this manual: ings emphasize specific characters
1. to briefly summarize the ecology, dis- expressed in the adjacent key, and are not
tribution, and frequency status of all intended to depict the entire lichen.
fruticose lichens known to occur in Illustrations of whole lichens can be found
British Columbia. in various popular and semi-popular ref-
2. to stimulate lichenological research by erences, including Hale (1979), Kershaw
making these lichens accessible to a et al. (1998), McCune and Geiser (1997),
broad audience. McCune and Goward (1995), MacKinnon
In keeping with the presumed needs et al. (1992), Parish et al. (1996), Pojar and
and resources of ecologists, biologists, MacKinnon (1994), Thomson (1984, 1997),
naturalists, teachers, and other beginning and Vitt et al. (1988).
students of lichens, this manual emphasizes It is beyond the scope of this manual to
morphological characters over chemical provide a comprehensive summary of
and spore characters; it also avoids techni- lichen biology (see instead: Hale 1983;
cal terms as far as possible.1It must be Hawksworth and Hill 1984; Lawrey 1984;
acknowledged, however, that some species Nash 1996). Effective identification does,
cannot be reliably identified without however, require a basic understanding of
recourse to thin-layer chromatography or lichen morphology and chemistry.
1 Technical terms are discussed in “Identifying Lichens” (page 10) and appear there in bold type. Additional
terms are defined in the keys, as well as in the Glossary (page 295).
LICHENS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, PART 2 – FRUTICOSE SPECIES 
Accordingly, the reader is invited to con- every effort has been made to make the
sult “Identifying Lichens” (page 10) prior keys as usable as possible, numerous errors
to using the keys. and oversights doubtless remain. The
This manual represents a first attempt reader is invited to bring these to the
to provide comprehensive keys to the fru- author’s attention for the benefit of future
ticose lichens of British Columbia. Though students of British Columbia’s lichens.2
Interpreting the For convenience, lichens can be arranged Species and Author Citation: Except in
Genus and Species in several different growth forms, includ- cases of recent taxonomic or nomenclat-
Accounts ing crustose, squamulose, foliose, and fru- ural revision, species names and author
ticose (see “Identifying Lichens,” page 10). citations follow Esslinger and Egan (1995).
Because, however, these growth forms are Synonyms: As a rule, only synonyms in
units of convenience, not biology, they do recent or widespread use are given.
not always offer a perfect “fit” with the Distribution Maps: The map number
genera they are supposed to circumscribe. appearing to the right of some species is
For example, while all species of Bryoria keyed to Appendix 1, in which distribu-
are fruticose, the genus Cladoniacontains tion maps are provided for species judged
both squamulose species and fruticose to be rare or infrequent in the province.
species. For convenience, this manual Common Names: Common names are
incorporates all lichen genera known to adopted, adapted, or introduced for all
occur in British Columbia in which a lichen species included in this manual.
majority of species can be described as Alternative common names are given in
fruticose. In a few instances, fruticose parentheses (...). See also “A Note on
species belonging to essentially nonfruti- Common Names,” page 21.
cose genera are also included (in paren- Habitat/Range: Information is provided
theses) in the keys, but are not discussed on lichen frequency status, common sub-
in the species accounts. Species appearing strates, site characteristics, provincial “life
in square brackets [...] are expected to zone” distribution, distribution in the
occur in British Columbia, but have yet to northern hemisphere, and cordilleran dis-
be reliably recorded. tribution.
The body of the manual is arranged 1. Frequency statusis given using the fol-
alphabetically, first by genus and then by lowing terms: rare, infrequent, fre-
species within each genus. quent, common.
The genus accounts include: 2. Substratesinclude acid/base-rich/
1. the scientific name, mossy/seasonally inundated rock,
2. a common name, coniferous/deciduous trees or shrubs,
3. a short description of the genus, with and soil, moss, duff, bark, or wood.
diagnostic characters placed in bold 3. Site characteristicsare expressed as:
italic type, exposed/open/ sheltered/shady/old-
4. pertinent references, growth forests, steppe, depressions, or
5. the derivation of the common name, outcrops, at lower/middle/upper/alpine
6. notes on global status, distribution, elevations.
taxonomy, chemistry, and points of 4. Provincial “life zone” distributionsare
distinction with similar genera. given according to the terms listed in
The species accounts are more com- columns I and II of Table 1; see also
plex, and are organized under the follow- Figure 2. Biogeoclimatic units (column
ing headings: III of Table 1) are occasionally used,
2 Please direct comments to Trevor Goward, Edgewood Blue, Box 131, Clearwater, BC V0E1N0.
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INTRODUCTION