Evernia spp. #

Taxa #

Evernia divaricata, Evernia mesomorpha, Evernia, perfragilis, Evernia prunastri

Organization #

Hair & Shrub-Like Lichens

Identification #

Most similar to the Ramalina genus. E. prunastri is corticolous; found in SE Alaska with one record north of Denali from Stampede Trail (Mariette Pilgrim 1953, CLH). E. mesomorpha is the expected sorediate and isidate, corticolous species inland, in boreal settings. There are not many collections of E. divaricata in Alaska, the range of which may narrowly exclude SE Alaska, occurring between the eastern flank of the Elias Mountains and the Kluane Range, north along the northern edge of the Alaska Range and broadly from Noatak NPP, the western Brooks Range, south to the Seward Peninsula (Emily Holt 2003-2005 in Spribille et al. 2023 and retrieved from CLH). The esorediate E. divaricata is terricolous in the tundra and in forests is corticolous with a preference for conifers (Spribille et al. 2023 and CLH). E. perfragilis is a species from interior Alaska yet found south of the Alaska Range in the state; common north of the Yukon River. E. perfragilis is terricolous like E. divaricata and overlaps in range on the Seward Peninsula and in the Brooks Range. We have collected it from Steese National Conservation Area with two more records not far made near Eagle in 1960 by Larry Gough (CLH). E. perfragilis can be separated from E. divaricata by having a more flattened appearance to the lobes.

Chemical Tests:

Evernia divaricata #

cortex: K-, C-, KC+ yellow, Pd-; medulla: K-, KC+ yellow, Pd-, UV+ “ice-blue” (CLH).

Evernia mesomorpha #

cortex: K-, C-, KC+ “gold”, Pd-; medulla: K-, C-, KC-, Pd- (Brodo et al. 2001)

Evernia perfragilis #

K-, C-, KC-, P- (CLH)

Evernia prunastri #

cortex: K- or K+ yellow, C-, KC- or KC+ yellow, Pd-, UV-; medulla: K- or K+ yellow, C-, KC-, UV- or UV+ “pale blue” (CLH)

Photos #