Lichens

of Mount Pisgah
A Field Guide to Select Species
 Photos, text, and design by August Jackson,
Interpretation Coordinator at Mount Pisgah
Arboretum

My sincerest gratitude to Daphne Stone for her

thorough review, feedback, and advice.

1st Edition, November 2022

If you appreciate this guide, please consider
making a donation to Mount Pisgah Arboretum:
[Link]/join-support/donate/
 Glossary
•Apothecium (pl. apothecia): A generally cupped
or disk-shaped spore producing surface.
•Cilia: Hair-like structures, generally on thallus
margins.
•Cortex: The outer, surface layer of a lichen.
•Fibril: In Usnea, a small branch-like projection
arising perpendicular to branches.
•Isidium (pl. isidia): A vegetative reproductive
structure (usually columnar or globular) that
contains both photobiont and mycobiont within a
cortex (compare with soredium).
•Lobule: Vegetative reproductive structures which
appear as miniature lobes.
•Podetium: The erect secondary thallus in lichens
in the genus Cladonia (ours).
•Rhizine: Root-like structures on the lower surface
of some lichens, aiding in attachment to substrate.
•Soralium (pl. soralia): Distinct locations in which
soredia are produced.
•Soredium (pl. soredia): A vegetative reproductive
structure (usually powdery) that contains both
photobiont and mycobiont without a cortex
(compare with isidium).
•Squamule: A small lobe-like structure. The
primary thallus in lichens in the genus Cladonia.
•Thallus: The lichen body.
•Tomentum: Fine, short hairs.
 Basic Lichen Biology
Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed
of a fungus (mycobiont) and a photosynthetic
partner (photobiont). The photobiont is either
an alga, a cyanobacterium, or sometimes both.
In this relationship, the fungal partner provides
the overall structure and acts as a housing for
the photobiont, which may otherwise be unable
to persist in the environment for long periods.
In turn, the fungus is fed by carbohydrates
produced through photosynthesis. Recent
research indicates that some lichens also
include yeasts. The process of lichenization
fundamentally alters the biology of each of the
partners such that lichens have a very unique
chemistry and produce secondary metabolites
not found elsewhere in nature.

The fungal partners in

lichens are generally
ascomycetes (cup
fungi), but a very
small number are
basidiomycetes,
producing fruiting
bodies that appear like
typical mushrooms.
Lichenomphalia
umbellifera (pictured at
right) is a basidiolichen
that can be found at Mount Pisgah.
Lichens in the Ecosystem
Mount Pisgah’s varied habitats and clean air
provide it with some of the highest lichen
diversity in the Willamette Valley. Lichens
are an important component of the ecosystem,
serving as a source
of food for some
mammals, nesting
materials for birds, and
food and shelter for a
number of invertebrates.
Some species have
been used as traditional
sources of food and
medicine throughout the
world.

Upon falling to the ground and decomposing,

lichens introduce large amounts of nutrients
into the soil. Cyanobacterial lichens fix
atmospheric nitrogen and contribute significant
additions of nitrogen to some forest systems in
the Pacific Northwest.

Many lichen species are extremely sensitive

to air pollution, and are therefore useful as
indicators of air quality. Lichen diversity is
significantly lower in urban areas, agricultural
areas, and along highway corridors. Forest
ecosystems affected by air pollution lack the
nutrient inputs provided by lichens.
 How To Use The Guide
While not intended to be comprehensive, this
field guide offers a thorough introduction to
some of the most noteable and noticeable
lichen species at Mount Pisgah. This guide will
also prove to be useful as an introduction to
lichen identification throughout the Willamette
Valley and northward into the Puget Trough of
Washington and the Georgia Basin of British
Columbia.

The lichens covered in this guide are all

identifiable in the field with a fairly high degree
of certainty (especially with the aid of a 10x
hand lens). Color descriptions refer to the
thallus when wet, unless otherwise noted. See
the References and Resources section at the
end of this guide for access to more thorough
species descriptions as well as chemical tests
useful for identification.

Features:
• Species descriptions are organized
alphabetically, and by growth form.
• Multiple photos are included with each
species description.
• A glossary of terms can be found in both the
front and back of the guide.
 Types of Lichens

Lichens are organized into groups by their

growth form. This guide covers lichens that
fall into three of the main morphologies, each
of which is color-coded in the guide for easier
reference.

Foliose lichens
Foliose lichens have clearly differentiated
upper and lower surfaces. Most are more or
less two-dimensional and many appear to be
leafy. They are often quite firmly attached to
their substrate.
 Types of Lichens

Fruticose lichens
Fruticose lichens are three-dimensional,
without a clearly-defined upper and lower
surface. These lichens often take a bushy form,
and may be upright or pendulous.

Fruticose lichens with

squamules
Our lichens in the genus Cladonia are
composed of a primary thallus made up of
squamules (small, lobe-like structures) and
a secondary, fruticose thallus consisting of
an erect podetia which is often tipped with
apothecia or a cup-like structure.
Hypogymnia physodes
hooded tube lichen

Description: Thallus grayish to greenish-

gray, often forming a rosette. Lobes three-
dimensional with hollow interior. Lobe tips
frequently raised, breaking open to reveal
powdery soredia along recurved margins.
Underside black, brownish at lobe tips.

Habitat: On bark. Very common and

widespread in a variety of habitats across
Mount Pisgah.
Hypogymnia physodes
hooded tube lichen
Hypogymnia tubulosa
powder-headed tube lichen

Description: Thallus whitish-gray to greenish-

gray. Lobes three-dimensional with hollow
interior, appearing inflated. Lobes more or less
erect, with powdery soredia covering swollen
lobe tips. Underside black or dark brown.

Habitat: On bark. Very common and

widespread particularly in more open forests
across Mount Pisgah.
Hypogymnia tubulosa
powder-headed tube lichen
Hypotrachyna sinuosa
green loop lichen

Description: Thallus yellowish-green, loosely

appressed to substrate, often with erect lobe
tips. Lobes with powdery soredia in roundish
soralia at tips. Underside black or dark brown
with dichotomously branched rhizines. Similar
in appearance to some Hypogymnia and
Parmelia species.

Habitat: On bark, usually of hardwoods.

Scattered in moist forests around Mount
Pisgah.
Hypotrachina sinuosa
green loop lichen
Leptogium saturninum group
bearded jellyskin

Description: Thallus blackish to greenish-

brown, especially near edges, more or less
appressed to substrate. Surface smooth or
somewhat wrinkled, with abundant isidia.
Underside covered in dense, white tomentum.

Habitat: Generally on bark of hardwoods,

often over moss. Uncommon, scattered in moist
forests, particularly in riparian areas.
Leptogium saturninum group
bearded jellyskin
Lobaria anomala
netted specklebelly

Description: Thallus a dark greenish-brown

to chocolate brown, occasionally attaining a
large size, but usually smaller than Lobaria
pulmonaria and more appressed to substrate.
With round, whitish soralia very frequent on
and occasionally within a network of ridges.
Underside light brown and tomentose, with
bare, white patches.

Habitat: Generally on bark of hardwoods and

shrubs. Widespread and occasional in moist
forests.
Lobaria anomala
netted specklebelly
Lobaria pulmonaria
lung lichen

Description: Thallus a vibrant yellow-green

when wet, with a well-defined network of
ridges. Soredia and/or isidia on ridges and lobe
margins. Small, brown apothecia sometimes
present. Underside generally cream to light
brown, lightly tomentose, with bare, white
patches. Mature thalli may reach very large
sizes.

Habitat: On bark, most frequently on

hardwoods and shrubs, but occasionally on
conifers. Very common in moist forests across
Mount Pisgah.
Lobaria pulmonaria
lung lichen
Lobaria scrobiculata
textured lungwort

Description: Thallus a deep blue-gray when

wet, lighter and yellow tinged when drying.
With round soralia scattered on and among a
loose network of ridges. Underside generally
cream to light brown, tomentose, with bare,
white patches.

Habitat: Generally on bark of hardwoods

and shrubs. Widespread and common in moist
forests, but not abundant.
Lobaria scrobiculata
textured lungwort
Nephroma helveticum
fringed kidney lichen

Description: Thallus brownish-green to bluish-

brown, low growing and loosely appressed
to substrate. Lobes smooth, with little to no
tomentum, fringed with many marginal and
laminal lobules. Orange-brown apothecia on
the underside of lobe tips. Underside tan to
dark brown, occasionally tomentose, lacking
veins, rhizines, or papillae.

Habitat: Generally on bark of shrubs and

hardwoods, often over moss. Infrequent in
moist forests across Mount Pisgah.
Nephroma helveticum
fringed kidney lichen
Parmelia hygrophila
western shield lichen

Description: Thallus whitish-green to bluish-

gray above. Lobes with white, angular cracks,
especially near edges. With globular, non-shiny
isidia, rather than the powdery soredia found
in the very similar Parmelia sulcata. Black
below with short, simple or apically branched
rhizines. Thallus more or less appressed to bark
substrate.

Habitat: On bark. Widespread in moist forests.

Parmelia hygrophila
western shield lichen
Parmelia sulcata
hammered shield lichen

Description: Thallus whitish-green to bluish-

gray above. Lobes with white, angular cracks
filled with powdery soredia. Black below
with short, perpendicularly branched rhizines.
Thallus more or less appressed to bark
substrate.

Habitat: Usually on bark. Widespread and

very common throughout Mount Pisgah. One
of the earliest colonizers on outer branches of
Oregon white oak.
Parmelia sulcata
hammered shield lichen
Parmotrema perlatum
black stone flower

Description: Thallus bluish-white to greenish-

gray, loosely attached to substrate. Lobes with
sparse, black, marginal cilia. Small, crescent-
shaped soralia found near lobe tips, usually
on smaller side lobes. Underside black, lighter
toward the margins.

Habitat: On bark. Fairly common and

scattered in moist forests.
Parmotrema perlatum
black stone flower
Peltigera collina
tree pelt

Description: Thallus brownish-green to

grayish, loosely appressed to substrate.
Lobes smooth, generally with undulating
margins. Soredia present on lobe margins,
except in some young individuals. Brownish-
black apothecia occasional on raised lobe
tips. Underside with veins brownish, often
somewhat indistinct and confluent. Rhizines
variable but often plumose. On trees.

Habitat: Generally on bark of shrubs and

hardwoods, often over moss. Very common in
moist forests across Mount Pisgah.
Peltigera collina
tree pelt
Peltigera membranacea
membranous dog lichen

Description: Thallus blue-green to brown-

green, often quite large, and loosely appressed
to substrate. Lobes weakly ridged, with very
fine tomentum on the upperside, especially near
the lobe tips. Tawny brown apothecia present
on raised lobe tips. Underside with distinct,
raised veins covered in velvety tomentum.
Rhizines long and mostly unbranched, similarly
covered in tomentum.

Habitat: Generally over moss on ground, logs,

rocks, and tree bases. Occasional throughout
Mount Pisgah in damp forests.
Peltigera membranacea
membranous dog lichen
Platismatia glauca
varied rag lichen

Description: Thallus grayish to pale green,

lacking a distinct network of ridges. Often
with a messy, tufted appearance. Isidia and/
or soredia may be present. Isidia sometimes
corraloid. Underside a variable patchy mix
of black, brown, and white. Often very white
beneath locally.

Habitat: On bark, especially on conifers.

Widespread and common, readily found on the
forest floor following storms.
Platismatia glauca
varied rag lichen
Platismatia herrei
tatttered rag lichen

Description: Thallus grayish to pale green,

lacking a distinct network of ridges. Often with
a tufted appearance, occasionally drooping.
Lobes much narrower and longer than in
Platismatia glauca. Isidia present on lobe
margins. Underside variable but a patchy mix
of black, brown, and white.

Habitat: On bark, especially on conifers in

moist forests. Widespread and fairly common.
Platismatia herrei
tatttered rag lichen
Scytinium palmatum
antlered jellyskin lichen

Description: Thallus dark brownish-black,

gelatinous, and somewhat erect. Many-lobed,
with lobe margins inrolled and pointed at tips.
Sharply wrinkled. Raised, brown apothecia
common and frequently abundant.

Habitat: On soil, rock, moss over rock, or

moss over bark. Most frequently found on
mossy tree trunks at Mount Pisgah. Scattered in
moist locations.
Scytinium palmatum
antlered jellyskin lichen
Sticta fuliginosa
peppered moon lichen

Description: Thallus brownish-gray to dark

brown or nearly black. Size variable, from
about 2-10 cm. Lobes broad, with isidia
scattered over the surface, giving a roughened
appearance. Underside cream to light brown,
tomentose, with scattered bare pits known as
cyphellae. Often with a fishy odor.

Habitat: Generally on bark of shrubs and

hardwoods. Scattered and infrequent in moist
forests across Mount Pisgah. Often found near
Lobaria anomala.
Sticta fuliginosa
peppered moon lichen
Sticta limbata
powdered moon lichen

Description: Thallus light brown to dark

brownish-green. Size variable, but often quite
small, growing in a rosette. Lobes broad, with
scattered, irregular soralia almost continuous
along the margins. Isida lacking. Underside
cream to light brown, tomentose, with scattered
bare pits known as cyphellae. Often with a
fishy odor.

Habitat: Generally on bark of shrubs and

hardwoods. Rare. Scattered in moist forests
across Mount Pisgah.
Sticta limbata
powdered moon lichen
Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia
Cumberland rock-shield

Description: Thallus pale greenish-gray

to brownish over time, tightly appressed to
substrate. Lower surface brownish, but not
seen unless peeled from substrate. Brown cup-
shaped apothecia very common.

Habitat: On rocks. Common and widespread

in exposed sites across Mount Pisgah.
Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia
Cumberland rock-shield
Evernia prunastri
oakmoss, staghorn lichen

Description: Thallus whitish-green, matte,

with a paler lower surface. Somewhat upright,
tufted, or drooping, and dichotomously
branching. Soredia present but usually not
abundant. Each branch represents a year of
growth, so specimens may be aged by counting
branch forks from tip to base.

Habitat: On bark. Very common in varied

habitats across Mount Pisgah.
Evernia prunastri
oakmoss, staghorn lichen
Ramalina dilacerata
punctured ramalina

Description: Thallus greenish-gray, tufted,

shiny. Branches round to flattened, with
scattered perforations. Soredia and isidia
absent. Apothecia present and common on
branch tips.

Habitat: On bark, predominantly of

hardwoods. Common in moist forests across
Mount Pisgah.
Ramalina dilacerata
punctured ramalina
Ramalina farinacea
dotted ramalina

Description: Thallus shiny, greenish-gray,

tufted to drooping. Irregularly dichotomously
branched with mostly marginal soralia on more
or less flattened branches. May be confused
with Evernia prunasti which is matte.

Habitat: On bark. Common in varied habitats

across Mount Pisgah.
Ramalina farinacea
dotted ramalina
Ramalina menziesii
fishnet lichen

Description: Thallus greenish-gray, pendulous,

often very long. Branches flattened, some
significantly widened, branching into
distinctive nets. Apothecia sometimes present.
Soredia and isidia lacking.

Habitat: On bark, predominantly of

hardwoods. Very common, but restricted to
moist forests close to water and with summer
moisture.
Ramalina menziesii
fishnet lichen
Sphaerophorus tuckermanii
Tuckerman’s coral lichen

Description: Thallus pale greenish-gray to tan,

tufted and clumping. Dendritically branched
with round to slightly flattened branches.
Spherical apothecia filled with black spores
sometimes present at branch ends.

Habitat: On conifer bark in moist forests.

Uncommon and scattered at Mount Pisgah,
currently known from only a couple
populations.
Sphaerophorus tuckermanii
Tuckerman’s coral lichen
Usnea flavocardia
Wirth’s beard lichen

Description: Thallus shiny, pale greenish-

gray, tufted to lightly pendulous. Branches
cigar-shaped (pinched at base), fibrillose, and
with small, scattered red spots. With large
soralia covering more than half the diameter
of branches, and occasional isidia. No other
Usnea species has distinct red spots. If needed,
confirm by checking for a yellow central cord
(axis) inside the branches.

Habitat: On bark. Common and scattered in

various habitats across Mount Pisgah.
Usnea flavocardia
Wirth’s beard lichen
Usnea longissima
old man’s beard, Methuselah’s beard

Description: Thallus pale greenish-gray,

extremely long and pendulous, often draping
whole trees. Distinct, unbranching strands with
abundant fibrils. Isidia and apothecia lacking.
This is our most readily identifiable Usnea
species.

Habitat: On branches. Rare and restricted to

small populations on Mount Pisgah.
Usnea longissima
old man’s beard, Methuselah’s beard
Usnea spp.
beard lichens

Description: Thallus pale greenish-gray, often

with yellowish tinges. Small and tufted to long
and pendulous. With isidia and soralia along
branches. Apothecia occasional. All Usnea
have a central cord (axis) within their branches
that is stretchy when wet. Identification
requires close examination, dissection, and
chemical testing. Usnea species make up a
significant portion of the lichen biomass at
Mount Pisgah.

Habitat: On bark. Common and widespread in

all habitats across Mount Pisgah.
Usnea spp.
beard lichens
Cladonia cariosa
split-peg lichen

Description: Podetia light gray-green to

whitish, somewhat branching, with wrinkles
and fissures. Brown apothecia common at tips.
Squamules of primary thallus fairly small and
inconspicuous.

Habitat: Generally on soil over rock.

Uncommon, scattered in rocky sites on Mount
Pisgah.
Cladonia cariosa
split-peg lichen
Cladonia furcata
forked cladonia

Description: Podetia squamulose and lacking

soredia, green to greenish-gray, tall and multi-
branching. Small, brown apothecia common
at tips. Branches somewhat flattened. Axils (in
branch forks) open, exposing hollow interior.
Squamulose and lacking soredia. Primary
squamules fairly small, generally not evident in
mature specimens.

Habitat: On soil and moss over rocks and logs.

Scattered in fairly moist habitats around Mount
Pisgah.
Cladonia furcata
forked cladonia
Cladonia transcendens
red pebblehorn

Description: Podetia light gray-green to

yellowish-green, infrequently branching,
occasionally forming small, ill-defined cups.
Red apothecia common at tips. Podetia often
covered in soredia. Primary squamules small
and with soredia. Cladonia bellidiflora may
look similar, but has many large secondary
squamules along the podetia.

Habitat: On bark and wood. Scattered in

various habitats around Mount Pisgah.
Cladonia transcendens
red pebblehorn
 References & Resources
•Brodo, I., Sharnoff, S. D., & Sharnoff, S.
(2001). Lichens of North America. New Haven,
CT. Yale University Press.

•Consortium of North American Lichen

Herbaria (2022). Retrieved August 30, 2022,
from [Link]

•McCune, B. & Geiser, L. (2009).

Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest,
Second Edition. Corvallis, OR. Oregon State
University Press.

•McCune, B. & Yang, S. (2021). Common

Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest.
Retrieved August 30, 2022, from https://
[Link]/pnw/[Link]

•Stone, D.F. (2018). Usnea in the Pacific

Northwest: Aide Mémoire. Corvallis, OR.
Northwest Lichenologists.
 Glossary
•Apothecium (pl. apothecia): A generally cupped
or disk-shaped spore producing surface.
•Cilia: Hair-like structures, generally on thallus
margins.
•Cortex: The outer, surface layer of a lichen.
•Fibril: In Usnea, a small branch-like projection
arising perpendicular to branches.
•Isidium (pl. isidia): A vegetative reproductive
structure (usually columnar or globular) that
contains both photobiont and mycobiont within a
cortex (compare with soredium).
•Lobule: Vegetative reproductive structures which
appear as miniature lobes.
•Podetium: The erect secondary thallus in lichens
in the genus Cladonia (ours).
•Rhizine: Root-like structures on the lower surface
of some lichens, aiding in attachment to substrate.
•Soralium (pl. soralia): Distinct locations in which
soredia are produced.
•Soredium (pl. soredia): A vegetative reproductive
structure (usually powdery) that contains both
photobiont and mycobiont without a cortex
(compare with isidium).
•Squamule: A small lobe-like structure. The
primary thallus in lichens in the genus Cladonia.
•Thallus: The lichen body.
•Tomentum: Fine, short hairs.