Allantoparmelia (aka “Rock Grub Lichens”)

Location Summary

Habitat: On alpine rocks.

Identification Characteristics

Description: Very dark olive- to yellow-brown or black with thick, narrow lobes; (ca. 0.2-1.5 mm across); closely appressed; the more elongate lobes worm-like, with irregular constrictions (giving the lichen its English name); pseudocyphellae, soredia & isidia absent; lower surface tan to black, without rhizines but sometimes attached to the substrate with thick, peg-like outgrowths of the lower cortex.  Photobiont green (Trebouxia?). Apothecia lecanorine; pycnidia common, entirely embedded in the thallus & scattered over the lobes.

Chemistry: Cortex PD-, K-, KC-, C- (atranorin lacking); medulla with various compounds.

Lookalikes: Hypogymnia, Brodoa, & Lobothallia all have thick, convex lobes & can resemble Allantoparmelia. Hypogymnia is generally larger, with hollow lobes. Most species of Melanelia have broader, flatter lobes, often with pseudocyphellae.

Bibliography: Lichens of North America, by Brodo, Sharnoff, & Sharnoff

Database Entry:  Distance Everheart 12-26-13