Lecanora albella (Pers.) Ach.

Thallus smooth, or cracked, creamy white, pale green, yellowish grey or grey, often with a white prothallus; apothecia 0.3-1.5 mm wide, with a prominent, persistent algal rim that is coloured like the thallus, the interior portions of the rim with abundant crystals much smaller than the algal cells, these fully dissolving in K; hymenium medium to dark brown in upper portions, topped with abundant coarse crystals (many of them individually visible at 400 x), the crystals clearing in K; spores 11.5-13.5 × 7-8.5  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K+ yellow or yellow turning red, C-, KC-, PD+ orange or red.

Contents: Atranorin, protocetraric and stictic acids, and ± chloratranorin, connorstictic, conprotocetraric, consalazinic, constictic, norstictic, salazinic, and virensic acids.

Habitat: On nutrient-rich bark in humid, well lit sites in waterfall sprayzones. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora cf. chlarotera has smaller, even or less undulating apothecia with less pruina.

Specimens: Björk 12285.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora albellula Nyl.

Syn. Lecanora piniperda Körb.

Thallus of warts and areoles that are few-clustered or isolated, matte, pale orangish tan with a day-glow yellow-green tinge; apothecia mostly crowded, 0.3-0.6 mm wide, the rim algal, resembling the crust rather than the disc in colour and texture, smooth when young but becoming beaded with maturity, slightly or moderately constricted to the base, the disc orange-brown or red-brown, flat to low-convex; hymenium 40-75  µ, colourless; upper hymenium light orange-brown, with abundant small granules; spores 1-celled, 7-14 × 3-5  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K- or sometimes K+ yellow, C, KC- or KC+ yellow-orange, PD-.

Contents: Isousnic and/or usnic acids.

Habitat: Mostly on bark at base of large Pseudotsuga trunks, rare on logs and on bark branches, lower to (rarely) upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: See notes under Lecanora laxa, L. mughicola and L. saligna.

Specimens: Goffinet 3759.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora allophana (Ach.) Nyl.

Thallus smooth, areolate or verruculose, creamy white or grey, sometimes sorediate; apothecia 0.6-2.5 mm wide, with a smooth, thick, persistent algal margin that resembles the thallus in colour and texture, constricting below, often strongly constricted to a stipe-like base, the disc medium to dark red-brown, remaining flat; interior of the rim with two types of crystals, minute crystals that dissolve in K, and large crystals (often larger than the algal cells) that remain unchanged or that recrystallize in K; spores 1-celled, 16-19.5 × 8.5-10.5  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, PD- or + pale yellow

Contents: Atranorin, ± chloratranorin.

Habitat: On conifer bark modified by calcareous dust, in dry forest, possibly also to be expected on rough bark of Populus. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: Sorediate forms appear similar to L. impudens, but produce farinose soredia in flat to low-convex soralia as opposed to granular soredia in mostly concave soralia.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora anopta Nyl.

Thallus grey or greenish, thin and slightly granular, or (more often) not apparent; apothecia 0.2-0.5 mm wide, reddish brown, occasionally blackish, with a prominent, persistent rim that is generally slightly lighter than the disc; algal rim usually distinct, lacking a spongy medulla, appearing similar to the disc in colour and texture; exciple formed of linear hyphae that expand into rounded cells to 5  µ thick in the outermost layer; upper hymenium brown to greenish, usually K+ green and HNO3+ red; asci Lecanora-type, IKI+ blue with a pale axial mass that ascends all through the apical thickening; spores oblong, 7-12 × 3.5-6  µ.

Reactions: All spot tests negative.

Contents: No known lichen substances reported, but our material contains norstictic acid in the apothecia.

Habitat: On conifer bark and wood, usually within or just above the winter snowpack. All forested elevations.

Similar Species: Similar species of Biatora and Lecidea always lack algae in the rim and have elliptical rather than oblong spores.

Specimens: Björk 9045, 12065, 12879.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora boligera (Norman ex Th. Fr.) Hedl.

Thallus pale to dark grey, thin, often not apparent; apothecia 0.3-0.7 mm wide, greyish brown or blackish, usually with the rim paler or darker than the disc; rim with few or no algae and no spongy medulla, appearing like the disc in colour and texture; exciple formed of cylindrical hyphae embedded in gel, arrayed fan-like as seen in cross section, often containing algae in small clusters; upper hymenium with diffuse brown and dark olive pigments, K+ green, HNO3+ red, lacking crystals; asci more or less Bacidia-type, IKI+ blue with a pale conical axial mass lined with dark blue; spores globose, 6-7  µ broad.

Reactions: K+ yellowish, PD+ orange-red.

Contents: Confumarprotocetraric and fumarprotocetraric acids (sometimes absent), lobaric acid, and minor amounts of unknown substances.

Habitat: on various shrubs and conifers, usually within or just above the winter snowpack. Middle to upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: Easily recognized by its spherical sores. A few low elevation species with spherical spores in the same size range may occasionally extend to upper forested elevations, but bear soredia or clearly differ in other ways.

Specimens: Björk 10775.

Local Status: Very common.

References: Ryan et al. (2004).

Notes: As currently circumscribed, L. boligera in our study area appears to contain two species.

Lecanora cadubriae (A. Massal.) Hedl.

Thallus grey or creamy whitish, areolate; apothecia 0.3-0.8 mm wide, dark reddish brown to dark pure brown or blackish; rim thin and receding, occasionally thick and persistent, usually without algae, lacking a spongy medulla, resembling the disc in colour and texture; upper hymenium brown and K-, HNO3- (but often olive in our material, and then K+ greener and HNO3+ red), lacking crystals; paraphyses mostly with 1 branch, swollen at the tip up to 4  µ wide; asci more or less Bacidia-type, IKI+ blue with a pale conical axial mass lined with dark blue; spores narrowly ellipsoid, 7-11 × 3-4.5  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow or red, PD+ orange.

Contents: Salazinic acid (sometimes absent), norstictic acid usually present, and minor to major amounts of connorstictic acid.

Habitat: On conifer branches and twigs above the winter snowpack. Lower to (especially) upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora fuscescens may appear very similar, but the difference in spore width allows easy identification.

Specimens: Björk 12203.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: This species may represent more than one species in our study area, corresponding to the presence or absence of algae in the rim, olive pigments in the upper hymenium that react K+ green and HNO3+ red, and presence or absence of norstictic acid in the apothecia and/or thallus.

Lecanora carpinea (L.) Vainio

Thallus matte, rather thin and smooth, or thick and cracked, greyish white, or sometimes immersed and not visible; apothecia evenly spaced, often close-fitting into polygons, 0.5-1.3 mm wide, the rim white, heavily covered in pruina, prominent and persistent, the disc flat, medium brown or reddish brown, but very heavily covered in white pruina, C+ deep yellow-orange; hymenium 45-65  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium light to medium reddish brown, heavily granular above, the pigment and granules dissolving in K; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores broadly elliptical, 9-15 × 6-8  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K+ yellow, PD+ yellow; disc C+ orange.

Contents: Atranorin and sordidol, plus minor amounts of other substances.

Habitat: On bark, usually on broadleaf trees and shrubs. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: No other crust lichen in the study area has C+ deep yellow-orange apothecia.

Specimens: Björk 15172.

Local Status: Uncommon.

Notes: Much more common outside our study area to the south.

Lecanora cf. chlarotera Nyl.

Thallus grey-white, often slightly yellowish, continuous to warty; apothecia 0.4-0.8 mm wide, usually crowded, the rim like the thallus in colour and texture, thick and smooth or somewhat lumpy, not beaded, the disc flat to low-convex, medium to darkish reddish brown, lightly dusted with pruina; rim algal, containing at least a few crystals that are larger than the algae, the cortex gelatinous, containing tiny polarizing crystals, about 20  µ wide near the edge, 25-40  µ wide under the hypothecium; hyemnium 70-95  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium with light to medium orange-brown pigment in the gel, also with crystals piled on top, these up to 4  µ wide; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores with walls up to 1  µ thick, 11-13 × 6-7.5  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K+ yellow.

Contents: Atranorin, and often also with roccellic acid.

Habitat: Bark of various acidic deciduous trees and shrubs, once on a conifer in a dripzone of Populus tremuloides. All forested elevations.

Similar Species: Easily distinguished from the similar-appearing L. circumborealis by the presence of large crystals piled on top of the upper hymenium.

Specimens: Björk 9479; Goward 94-843, 01-198.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: Brodo (1984) notes that this species may be misapplied to at least some North American material. Our material is variable in the amount of pruina on the disc.

Lecanora circumborealis Brodo & Vitik.

Thallus patchy, areolate, smooth or rarely lumpy, white or pale grey, often poorly developed and not apparent; apothecia solitary or (less often) crowded or clustered, 0.25-0.6 mm wide, the disc usually dark brown or blackish, sometimes medium brown; rim containing a spongy medulla and a distinct algal layer, with the colour and texture of the thallus; interior of the algal rim (LM) with clusters of crystals that are larger than the algal cells; upper hymenium with a diffuse brown pigment and small crystals, many of which are positioned between the paraphyses; spores broadly elliptical, 11-18 × 7-12  µ, with walls 1-1.2  µ thick.

Reactions: K+ yellow, PD- or PD+ pale yellow.

Contents: Atranorin and usually roccellic acid.

Habitat: On branches and twigs, less often on trunks, of conifers, always above the winter snowpack. Mostly upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora pulicaris is very similar, though typical of low elevation forests. It has thinner spores walls, a characteristically medium brown disc, and usually reacts PD+ orange.

Specimens: Björk 13212; Goward 98-38.

Local Status: Common.

Lecanora cf. detrusa

Thallus granular or areolate, the thallus units up to 0.25 mm wide, only weakly corticate, matte creamy greenish-gray; apothecia densely crowded, 0.25-0.4 mm wide, the rim thin and slowly receding with maturity, coloured like the thallus, the disc yellowish or orangish brown, lightly dusted with pruina, flat or low-convex; rim algal, lacking a distinct cortex, the outermost hyphae loosely tangled and not embedded in gel, the algal layer with abundant, tiny, brownish crystals that clear in K; hymenium 35-50  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium light to medium yellowish or orangish brown, thickly covered with granules that clear in K; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores elliptic, 9-16 × 3-6  µ.

Reactions: KC- or KC+ yellow-orange.

Contents: Usnic acid, decarboxysquamatic acid, and sometimes with zeorin.

Habitat: Decorticated branches of Pseudotsuga, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora subintricata also has small apothecia, but has a dinstinct gelatinous cortex, mostly smaller spores, and the rim when young arches over the disc. Bryonora minor appears very similar, but has a glossy rim and more distinctly pruinose apothecia.

Specimens: Björk 12306; Goward 96-1102.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora farinaria Borrer

Thallus immersed or surficial and very thin, forming abundant but solitary surficial areoles that quickly disintegrate into soredia; areoles and soredia creamy pale yellow, less often creamy pale grey or whitish; soredia 25-40  µ wide; apothecia rarely produced, 0.4-1 (‑1.5) mm wide; the rim containing an algal layer and a spongy medulla, with the colour and texture of the thallus, often bearing soredia; disc dark brown; spores (10‑) 14-17 (‑20) × 7-15  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, PD- or PD+ pale yellow.

Contents: Atranorin, chloratranorin and roccellic acid, and minor amounts of unknown fatty acids.

Habitat: On smooth bark of conifer trunks and branches, wood of snags, or on Alnus, less often on other shrubs, usually above the winter snowpack. Lower to (rarely) upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: Pycnora sorophora has larger, more heaped-up soredia and reacts C+ red (flash) and PD+ orange-red. Biatora chrysantha and Biatora chrysanthoides grow within the snowpack, grow on mosses and rough bark, and react C+ red (flash). Biatora flavopunctata grows on shrubs within the snowpack, has more abundant areoles, and is frequently fertile with apothecia lacking an algal rim. Cliostsomum leprosum has abundant black pycnidia and has a whiter colour. Pyrrhospora cinnabarina usually occurs within the winter snowpack and has a relatively bluish colour and abundant corticate thallus between the soralia.

Specimens: Björk 12386, 12880; Goward 01-206.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: Where this species grows sheltered from direct rain-drip, it may become fully leprose, producing thick masses of soredia over very large areas. However, specimens growing in upper elevation forests tend to be more circumscribed, the soredia usually limited to discrete soralia.

Lecanora fuscescens (Sommerf.) Nyl.

Thallus creamy whitish or grey, areolate; apothecia 0.3-0.8 mm wide, brown or grey-brown, with a thin, quickly receding rim; rim usually lacking algae, occasionally with a few algal clusters within; upper hymenium brown or olive, if olive then K+ green and HNO3+ red, lacking crystals; paraphyses mostly with 1 branch, swollen at the tip up to 4  µ; asci more or less Bacidia-type, IKI+ blue with a paler, conical axial mass that is lined with darker blue; spores globose and broadly elliptical (shapes often intermixed within a single ascus), 6-10 (‑13) × 4-7 (‑8)  µ.

Reactions: K+ pale yellow, PD+ orange-red, UV+ white.

Contents: Fumarprotocetraric acid (sometimes absent), fumarprotocetraric acid, and minor amounts of confumarprotocetraric acid and unknown substances.

Habitat: On conifer trunks, branches and twigs above the winter snowpack. Lower to (especially) upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: See notes under Lecanora cadubriae. Distinguished from Lecanora boligera in having elliptical spores intermixed among globose spores, and in having a thinner, quickly receding rim.

Specimens: Björk 9048.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: Lecanora fuscescens s. str. may not be present in northwestern North America. The local material possibly contains more than one species. Further work is needed.

Lecanora hagenii (Ach.) Ach.

Thallus immersed, not apparent, or with few, poorly developed, grey areoles; apothecia 0.15-0.9 mm wide, with a moderately thick, prominent, persistent, smooth or notched algal rim that contains a spongy medulla giving it an opaque, whitish appearance, the disc remaining flat, both the disc and rim usually pruinose, or only the rim pruinose, or both lacking pruina, the rim interior containing few or many minute crystals that remain unchanged in K, the cortex of the rim characteristically with elliptical to cylindrical hyphae widely separated in clear gel; hymenium 40-60  µ high, with or without crystals on the top, any crystals K-, also with pale to medium yellowish brown pigment in the upper portion; spores 9-13.5 × 4.5-5 (‑6), simple, elliptical.

Reactions: All spot tests negative.

Contents: No known lichen substances.

Habitat: On nutrient-rich bark, especially on twigs and branches of Populus, usually in well-lit places, lower to (rarely) middle elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora populicola is similar, but differs in having a well developed, areolate thallus and larger spores, and is known rarely in northeast BC.

Specimens: Björk 11640, 13780.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: Highly variable, pruinose and non-pruinose forms appear very different. Lecanora wetmorei is distinguished based on larger apothecia and a downwardly thickening cortex on the rim. However, forms in the study area that are attributable to this species grade into L. hagenii through complex patterns of non-correlating characters.

Lecanora hybocarpa (Tuck.) Brodo

Thallus continuous, smooth to warty or sometimes areolate, greyish white, sometimes a bit yellowish; apothecia usually crowded, 0.3-1 mm wide, the rim prominent and persistent, lumpy, constricting toward the attachment point, disc flat to low-convex, medium orange-brown or reddish brown; rim algal, the cortex well formed, gelatinous, inspersed with minute crystals, 15-25  µ wide near the edge, expanding to 25-35  µ wide near the attachment point, the algal portions containing at least a few crystals that are larger than the algae; hymenium colourless; upper hymenium with light to medium orange-brown in the gel, minute crystals on the top and inspersed between the paraphysis apices; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores mostly malformed and scarce, the walls 0.7-1  µ thick; 10-13 × 6-8  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K+ yellow.

Contents: Atranorin, and sometimes roccellic acid.

Habitat: Nutrient-rich bark of Salix, Populus tremuloides, Juniperus scopulorum, and in dripzones, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: See notes under Lecanora cf. hybocarpa “puffy”. Differs from L. pulicaris mostly in the warty to beaded rim and its habitat preference for nutrient-rich bark.

Specimens: Björk s.n. (1 October, 2004), hb. Björk.

Local Status: Occasional.

Lecanora hygrophoba Björk ined.

Thallus at first immersed with evenly dispersed mounds of soredia, usually quickly becoming a leprose mass, creamy yellow, the soredia individually 25-35  µ wide, usually grouped in clusters 40-50  µ wide; apothecia rare, pale to medium yellowish brown to brown, 0.2-0.4 mm wide, constricted at the base, with a sorediate, algal rim that quickly recedes and that resembles the disc more than the thallus in colour and texture, the disc becoming low-convex with maturity, the rim containing a sharply defined algal layer, the cortex formed of elliptical cells widely separated in clear gel,; hymenium 35-45  µ high, topped in coarse, orangish brown crystals; spores simple, 7.5-10 × 4-5  µ.

Reactions: Soredia K+ deep yellow, C-, KC+ deep yellow-orange, PD + yellow-orange.

Contents: Unknown, but probably with usnic acid.

Habitat: On acidic to moderately basic bark and wood, in humid areas, usually where sheltered from rain-drip, lower to (rarely) upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora farinaria has relatively greyish or whitish soredia, and apothecia with a rim more resembling the thallus than the disc.

Specimens: Björk 17850.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: Known only from inland BC.

Lecanora hypoptella (Nyl.) Grumman

Thallus thin and hard to see, or immersed; apothecia 0.3-0.7 mm wide, often crowded or clustered, the rim medium to dark brown or red-brown, paler than the disc, prominent but receding with maturity, the disc dark brown, flat but becoming stongly convex with maturity; rim containing algae, but not resembling the thallus in colour, with radiating hyphae toward the edge, the cortex lacking or only to 15  µ wide; hymenium 40-55  µ high, colourless or pale yellow brownish; upper hymenium light to medium reddish brown, without or with few granules; hypothecium colourless or pale yellow brownish, the layer below with abundant algae; paraphyses simple or few-branched; asci often with a poorly developed tholus; spores 8-15 × 3-4.5  µ, often with the inner surface of the walls pinching inward.

Reactions: Thallus K- or K+ brownish yellow.

Contents: No known lichen substances.

Habitat: Mostly on bark of Pseudotsuga branches and trunks, and on decorticated Pseudotsuga branches, less often on twigs of Pseudotsuga, Picea and Pinus contorta, stumps, and Betula papyrifera bark peels. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora cadubriae, Lecanora cf. hypopta “norstictic form”, and Fuscidea sp. 1 all closely resemble this species, the first two are K+ yellow turning red in the thallus and have few or no algae in the rim, and the latter has widely spaced, non-clustered apothecia lacking algae in the rim and has K+ gold spores and ascus lumina.

Specimens: Björk 17840.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora impudens Degel.

Thallus white or greenish white, scurfy and non-corticate, continuous over patches 1-7 cm wide or sometimes much larger, with large, crowded warts, or smooth in parts, especially around the margins; soralia 0.3-1 (‑2) mm wide, concave to flat, round or more often of irregular shapes, often lined by a rim of raised thallus; soredia fluffy, 40-60  µ wide, whitish blue-green or whitish green, coated in polarizing crystals up to 8 × 6  µ; apothecia very rare, adnate, the disc medium reddish brown, the margin often sorediate; spores broadly elliptical, mostly 12-14.5 × 8-9.5  µ.

Reactions: Crust K+ light yellow, the soredia K+ deep yellow, all parts KC+ orangish yellow, C-, PD-. Also UV+ dull bluish white.

Contents: Unknown.

Habitat: Always on bark of aspen and cottonwood (Populus) trunks, usually on old trees, lower to (rarely) middle elevations.

Similar Species: The large whitish patches with fluffy greenish soredia in irregular-shaped soralia, and the occurrence on Populus trunks make this a very distinctive species.

Specimens: Goffinet 3738; Goward 94-926.

Local Status: Common.

Notes: This is a very common species in inland BC, south to northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Its placement in Lecanora is based only on general appearance, and the tetrahedral crystals in K, which are also seen in many specimens of Lecanora hybocarpa, L. chlarotera and others.

Lecanora laxa (Sliwa & Wetmore) Printzen

Syn. Lecanora varia (Hoffm.) Ach. var. laxa Sliwa & Wetmore

Thallus thin, often invisible or only the blue-black hypothallus, or with a few day-glow creamy green areoles or granules; apothecia individually scattered or less often crowded in large clusters, 0.3-1 mm wide, the rim usually thin but prominent and persistent, thalline, constricting toward the attachment point, the disc flat or low-convex, creamy greenish like the rim; rim algal, with a distinct gelatinous cortex 15-20  µ wide near the edge and containing minute polarizing crystals, lower portions of the cortex near the attachment point expanded to 35-50  µ wide and with few polarizing granules; hymenium colourless; upper hymenium with light to medium brown pigments in the gel, also heavily granular, granules and pigments largely clearing in K; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely algal; spores ovate, 6-9 × 3-4.5  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, C-, KC+ yellow-orange, PD- or PD+ orange in a few spots.

Contents: Usnic acid, sometimes also with psoromic acid.

Habitat: Mostly on smooth bark of conifers and acidic-barked shrubs, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora albellula has a beaded rim and a orange-brown disc, and grows in the study area mostly near the ground.

Specimens: Björk 12898.

Local Status: Uncommon.

Lecanora muralis (Schreb.) Rabenh.

Thallus of lobes 0.5-1 mm wide, forming a rosette usually 15-35 mm wide, waxy, creamy yellow, pale yellowish green, or yellowish grey, often pruinose in patches; apothecia mostly in the centre of the thallus, often crowded, with the apothecial size increasing toward the thallus centre, with a prominent and persistent algal rim that more resembles the thallus than the disc in colour and texture, the rim interior containing a patchy algal layer, with or without minute and or large crystals (not dissolving in K); hymenium 50-70  µ high, the upper portions with abundant minute crystals that dissolve in K; spores 8-13 × 4.5-7  µ, simple, elliptical.

Reactions: KC+ deep yellow-orange.

Contents: Usnic acid, zeorin, and ± isousnic acid, leucotylin and other triterpenes, fatty acids, and various depsides, depsidones and unknown substances.

Habitat: Usually on rock, but occasionally on minerally modified bark or wood, especially along the shores of large lakes and rivers. Lower elevations (as an epiphyte).

Similar Species: Unmistakable among epiphytic crust lichens in our area, but at first glance, it could be confused with the macrolichen Parmeliopsis ambigua, which produces soredia and more readily lifts from the substrate.

Specimens: Björk 12216.

Local Status: Occasional as a saxicole, uncommon as an epiphyte.

Notes: Lecanora muralis represents many morphological, chemical and ecological forms, some of which should probably be raised as species. Typical L. muralis grows in polluted areas of Europe, and is a common sight on city walls and sidewalks. This pollution-tolerant form is not known from northwestern North America.

Lecanora phaeostigma (Körb.) Almb.

Thallus pale grey, smooth or slightly granular, often not apparent; apothecia 0.2-0.4 mm wide (ours), with a thin and quickly receding rim, medium to dark red-brown; rim lacking algae, reddish brown in the outer layer, the pigment reacting K+ olive, HNO3-; upper hymenium medium brown or reddish brown, K+ olive, HNO3-; paraphyses swollen up to 5  µ at the tip; asci similar to Fuscidea-type, IKI+ blue, with a darker blue crescent across the top of the apex; spores elliptical or oblong, often with a single septum or incomplete septum, most turning gold in K, 8-15 × 3-5  µ.

Reactions: All spot tests negative.

Contents: No known lichen substances.

Habitat: On bark of Picea trunks. Middle to upper forested elevations.

Similar Species: No other epiphytic crust lichen occurring in upper elevation forests has K+ gold spores. The ascus type also separates this easily from all our other species.

Specimens: Björk 9045, 13162.

Local Status: Occasional.

Notes: Not previously recorded from North America. The above description refers to our material, which differs from typical Lecanora phaeostigma in having smaller apothecia. This species probably does not belong in Lecanora, having a very different ascus type and often septate spores. It is similar to Fuscidea, with which it shares both the ascus type and the K+ gold spores. Species of that genus however, have a markedly different apothecial anatomy and are mostly rock-dwelling.

Lecanora polytropa (Hoffm.) Rabenh.

Thallus of waxy, flat to low-convex areoles, creamy yellow, greyish green or olive, or the areoles poorly developed and only the apothecia easily seen; apothecia 0.3-1 (‑1.5) mm, constricted at the base, with both the disc and rim having the colour and texture of the thallus, or the rim and thallus contrastively greener, the rim smooth and regular, at first prominent, but slowly receding, the disc flat to low-convex; rim interior lacking crystals, but crystals present on the outer surface, the algal layer complete or interrupted, rarely absent; hymenium 45-60  µ high, topped with coarse granules (some individually visible at 400 x), unpigmented or pale yellowish, or rarely with brown pigments concentrated in the upper portions; hypothecium colourless, pale yellowish or light brown; spores 10.5-13 × 5.5-6.5  µ, simple, elliptical.

Reactions: KC+ deep yellow-orange.

Contents: Usnic acid, zeorin and rangiformic acid.

Habitat: Usually on rock, occasionally on bark or wood. All forested elevations.

Similar Species: Other usnic Lecanoras could be confused with this species, but these are matte, not waxy. Lecanora albellula may be somewhat waxy, but has a notched or beaded apothecial rim.

Specimens: Björk 8517, 11639.

Local Status: Common as a saxicole, occasional as an epiphyte.

Notes: Two forms are found as epiphytes in our area: Form one has a usually inconspicuous thallus of flat to low-convex areoles that are coloured like the apothecial rim and disc. Form two has a conspicuous thallus of low- to high-convex areoles that

are distinctly greener than the apothecia, and sometimes with a thin, green thalline rim in addition to an inner rim that has the colour and texture of the disc.

Lecanora pulicaris (Pers.) Ach.

Thallus white, often with a greyish or yellowish tinge, continuous, smooth to warty; apothecia evenly spaced over the thallus and not usually crowded, sometimes a few clustered, 0.3-1 mm wide, the rim coloured like the thallus, smooth, prominent and persistent, somewhat glossy, the disc usually medium reddish brown, sometimes dark brown or rarely black or light brown; rim algal, containing crystals larger than the algal cells, the cortex distinct and gelatinized, inspersed with tiny crystals, 18-25  µ wide near the edge, 30-45  µ wide near the attachment point; hymenium 60-85  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium with light to medium orange-brown pigments in the gel, also with tiny crystals (<1  µ) on top and between the paraphysis apices; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores 11-15 × 7.5-9.5  µ, the walls 0.8-1  µ thick.

Reactions: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, PD+ red or sometimes PD-.

Contents: Atranorin, usually with fumarprotocetraric acid and often with roccellic acid.

Habitat: Mostly on branches and twigs of conifers, but common also on branches, twigs and trunks of both alkaline and acidic deciduous trees and shrubs mostly at lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: See notes under Lecanora circumborealis and L. hybocarpa.

Specimens: Björk 12196, 13167; Goward 94-863.

Local Status: Very common.

Lecanora rugosella Zahlbr.

Thallus white, often with a yellowish or greyish tinge, continuous and warty or granular; apothecia mostly crowded, 0.7-1.5 mm wide, the rim coloured like the thallus, lumpy or beaded from early in development, prominent and persistent, the disc medium to dark orange-brown or reddish brown, often with a light dusting of pruina; rim algal, containing at least a few blocky crystals larger than the algae, with a distinctly gelatinous cortex 15-20  µ wide near the edge, 30-45  µ near the attachment point; hymenium 60-85  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium with pale to medium orange-brown pigment in the gel, also with granules up to 4  µ wide on top; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores 12-17 × 7-9.5  µ, the walls 1.2-1.5  µ thick.

Crust colour, texture; soredia/isidia; apothecia; asci; spores.

Reactions: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, PD-.

Contents: Atranorin and often roccellic acid, sometimes with gangaleoidin.

Habitat: Bark of Populus tremuloides branches. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: No other Lecanora with a lumpy apothecial rim in the study area has such thick spore walls.

Specimens: Björk 15196.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora saligna (Schrader) Zahlbr.

Thallus creamy yellowish grey, immersed or with a few warts or granules on the surface; apothecia usually crowded, 0.2-1.2 mm wide, the rim coloured like the thallus, prominent and persistent, but not very thick, smooth or sometimes a bit incised, the disc reddish brown, rarely blackish; rim algal, with an indistinct cortex 5-30  µ wide that is uneven and thin, and not well demarcated from the algal layer, containing polarizing granules; hymenium 45-60  µ high, colourless; upper hymenium with light to dark brown, sometimes blackish pigments that are N-, and with abundant gold granules; hypothecium colourless, the layer below with densely packed algae; spores 8-13 × 4-7  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P-.

Contents: Atranorin and isousnic acid.

Habitat: On bark and wood of Pseudotsuga branches, to be expected on other wood surfaces, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora albellula has a thicker, beaded rim. L. mughicola is usually greenish or blackish in the disc and has a well-developed, gelatinous cortex on the rim.

Specimens: Goffinet 3685.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora schizochromatica Spribille

Thallus areolate or continuous and smooth, pale to dark grey, often immersed and not apparent; apothecia 0.3-1 mm wide; rim algal, but lacking a spongy medulla, not having the colour or texture of the thallus, usually glossy, grey, tan, brown-gray or black, distinctly darker than the rim, prominent but eventually receding; disc pale to dark creamy tan, grey-brown, or black, often with a thin pruina; upper hymenium with a diffuse grey or brown pigment and coarse crystals piled over the paraphysis tips; spores elliptical, 7.5-10.5 × 3-4.5  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, PD-.

Contents: Atranorin in the thallus; usnic acid and paraensic acids C and D in the apothecia.

Habitat: On twigs and branches of conifers above the winter snowpack. All forested elevations.

Similar Species: This species is apparently related to the widespread species Lecanora symmicta, which differs in having yellow or orange apothecia with a rim that is the same colour as the disc or paler, and which quickly recedes.

Specimens: Björk 8990, 9750, 12413.

Local Status: Very common.

References: Pérez-Ortega et al. (2010).

Notes: Sometimes confused with Lecanora symmicta, which has a non-glossy rim that is usually thin and quickly fading, and in which the apothecial colouration is usually orangish yellow.

Lecanora subintricata (Nyl.) Th. Fr.

Thallus immersed, sometimes with a few granules at the surface, matte creamy creamy yellowish green-gray; apothecia mostly single or few together, but sometimes densely crowded, 0.2-0.5 mm wide, the rim coloured like the thallus, when young dome-shaped and arching over the disc, the opening expanding with maturity, the disc light brown or brown-gray or greenish; rim algal, the cortex 15-30  µ wide near the edge, not much expanded near the attachment point, gelatinous, clearly delimited from the algal layer; hymenium 30-45  µ high, colourless or with a few streaks of brownish pigments; upper hymenium pale to medium brown, sometimes olive-brown, also with golden granules piled up 5-15  µ deep on the top; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores elliptical, 5-11 × 2.5-4  µ.

Reactions: KC- or KC+ yellow-orange.

Contents: Usnic acid and/or isousnic acid.

Habitat: Bark and wood of conifer branches, twigs, trunks, snags and logs, especially on decorticated branches, rare on Salix bark. All forested elevations.

Similar Species: See notes under Lecanora strobilina.

Specimens: Björk 8982, 9033.

Local Status: Common.

Lecanora sublaxa Spribille ined.

Thallus of scattered, flat to low convex areoles, creamy yellowish; hypothallus usually conspicuous, grey to blackish, usually covering patches 10-30 mm across; apothecia with the disc and rim having the colour and texture of the thallus, or the disc darkening with age, the rim thin and receding with age, formed of sparse cylindrical to elliptical hyphae widely separated in thick gel, lacking crystals in the interior, but the outer surface with large orangish crystals; hymenium topped in large orangish crystals, colourless or pale yellowish, or sometimes with greenish, N+ red pigments in older apothecia; spores broadly elliptical, 6-9 × 5-6  µ.

Reactions: KC+ deep yellow orange.

Contents: Usnic and ± isousnic acids.

Habitat: On smooth bark, usually on broadleaf shrubs, especially Alnus, usually in humid habitats, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: The usually conspicuous hypothallus makes this species easily distinguished from other usnic Lecanora on bark.

Local Status: Common.

Lecanora subrugosa Nyl.

Thallus greyish or yellowish white, densely warty-areolate; apothecia clustered and rather crowded, 0.4-2.5 mm wide, the rim coloured like the thallus, thick, prominent and persistent, smooth to warty or beaded, glossy, the disc dark brown or reddish brown, somewhat glossy; rim algal, with large, blocky crystals larger than the algae, the cortex distinct and gelatinous, 15-30  µ wide near the edge, expanded to 25-45  µ near the attachment point, containing tiny polarizing crystals; hymenium colourless; upper hymenium lacking any crystals, with medium to dark reddish brown pigment that remains unchanged in colour but somewhat diffused in K; hypothecium colourless, the layer below densely packed with algae; spores 11-16 × 7-9  µ, the walls about 1  µ thick.

Reactions: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, PD+ pale yellow.

Contents: Atranorin, roccellic acid.

Habitat: Conifer wood and Acer bark, in dripzones and in shelter of large Pseudotsuga, lower to middle elevations

Similar Species: All other Lecanora species in the study area that lack crystals in the upper hymenium have much smaller apothecia and lack a conspicuous thallus. Lecanora rugosella and L. hybocarpa may look similar but have smaller apothecia and granules in the upper hymenium. Additionally, L. rugosella has walls 1.2-1.5  µ thick.

Specimens: Björk s.n. (November 2006) hb. Björk.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora symmicta (Ach.) Ach. sensu lato

Thallus light creamy yellowish or pale bluish green, densely areolate, granular, verrucose or smooth in part; apothecia densely crowded, 0.2-0.5 mm wide, the rim thin and usually inconspicuous, the disc flat to high-convex, matte, waxy or glossy, usually deep yellow orange, but also orange-tan, yellow-gray or creamy grey; rim non-algal or with few to many algae, the proper rim formed of thin parallel hyphae that fan at the edges, but colourless in portions below the hypothecium; hymenium 40-65  µ, light brown; upper hymenium light brown, with a thin but dense layer of polarizing crystals on the top; spores broadly elliptical, 6.5-11 × 4-5  µ.

Reactions: Thallus K- or + yellow, C-, KC- or + yellow-orange.

Contents: Arthothelin, usnic acid and zeorin, and ± 4,5-dichloronorlichexanthone, norlichexanthone, and thiophanic acid.

Habitat: On bark of broadleaf trees and shrubs, or on conifer bark or wood in nutrified areas, usually in humid habitats, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: Shade forms with a persistent apothecial rim and low concentrations of usnic acid in the apothecia may appear like Lecanora schizochromatica or Cliostomum griffithii. The former has a glossy rim, and the latter has conspicuous black pycnidia.

Specimens: Björk 12432, 14287.

Local Status: Occasional.

Lecanora cf. umbrosa Degel.

Thallus smooth, areolate or verruculose, creamy whitish or greyish white, with a conspicuous, cottony, white prothallus, producing soralia in rather evenly spaced, round, high-convex soralia, the soredia granular, pale green or whitish; apothecia (absent in our local material placed here) 1-2 mm wide, with a smooth, thick, slowly receding rim and deep red-brown disc, becoming constricted at the base with age, the rim interior containing minute crystals that partly dissolve in K; hymenium medium to dark orange- or red-brown in upper portions, lacking crystals; spores 11-15 × 6-8.5  µ.

Reactions: K+ yellow, PD- or + pale yellow.

Contents: Atranorin, and ± chloratranorin and triterpenoids.

Habitat: Usually on acidic rock, rarely also on bark, especially where cool, humid, well ventillated, and sheltered from rain-drip. Lower elevations.

Similar Species: Lecanora impudens is somewhat similar, but has mostly concave soralia and grows on high-pH bark, especially on Populus.

Local Status: Rare.

Lecanora zosterae (Ach.) Nyl.

Thallus usually immersed, or surficial and smooth, grey or greyish white; apothecia 0.6-1.6 mm (usually smaller in our range), not or weakly constricted at the base; the rim algal, thin but prominent and persistent, white or pale grey, often becoming irregular in outline, the disc flat, rarely lightly whitish pruinose; the rim interior with a poorly defined algal layer, and a thick cortex formed of elliptical cells widely separated in thick gel, lacking crystals within, but sometimes with an external layer of large granules on the surface; hymenium 45-60  µ high, with yellow brown or brownish red pigments that react N+ pinkish, lacking granules or with a few, scattered large granules on the surface; spores 9-13.5 × 5-6  µ, elliptical to ovate, simple.

Reactions: All spot tests negative.

Contents: No known lichen substances.

Habitat: On detritus or rarely on calcareous-influenced (as with limestone dust) hard-weathered wood, lower to middle elevations.

Similar Species: Other Lecanora species that are K- on the apothecial rim may appear similar, but will have a distinct layer of crystals on top of the hymenium.

Specimens: Björk 11642.

Local Status: Rare.