The
World Botanical Associates Web Page
Prepared by Richard W. Spjut
January 2004, Oct. 2005, Sep 2012
Additions May 2017
Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja
California.
Evolutionary history of coastal species
of fog lichen genera
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Rocky mesa E of San Antonio del Mar, Spjut & Sérusiaux 17015, Jan 2016 |
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Rocky mesa E of San Antonio del Mar, Spjut & Marin 11182,
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Illustration of TLC data for species of Niebla |
Map showing collection sites |
Niebla pulchribarbara was originally described by Rundel and Bowler from a vegetation study they conducted at Bahía de San Quintín (Rundel et al. 1972); however, Bowler and Marsh (2004), felt it was no longer worthy of recognition and treated it as a synonym of N. josecuervoi, a species that had also been described by Rundel and Bowler in the same study (Rundel et al. 1972). The authors of N. pulchribarbara did not provide any indication of what its frequency was at the site, apparently because they distinguished N. pulchribarbara from N. josescuervoi by the terricolous habit (Rundel 1978) rather than by secondary lichen substances as was later done by Spjut (1996). However, N. josecuervoi occasionally is recognized without having a well defined attachment point as shown for specimens collected on Punta Canoas (e.g., Spjut 11297) The morphological features of Niebla pulchribarbara appear intermediate between N. josecuervoi and N. effusa as seen by the development and shape of branchlets. Niebla pulchribarbara differs slightly from these related species in the longer branchlets; however, based on the relatively few specimens studied, it is difficult to draw any taxonomic conclusions on this one feature. The thallus lacking any clear dominant branch and the relatively rigid branches with raised longitudinal cortical ridges are features shared with N. effusa. The appearance of long secondary branchlets, often close together along the upper side of a primary branch, is also similar to N. josecuervoi. In view of the limited material for study, it seems best to identify N. pulchribarbara by the lichen substance, protocetraric acid. Additional references cited: Bowler, P. A. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2: 368–380. Rundel, P.W. 1978. Ecological relationships of desert fog zone lichens. The Bryologist 81: 277–293. Rundel, P.W., P.A. Bowler & T.W. Mulroy. 1972. A fog-induced lichen community in northwestern Baja California, with two new species of Desmazieria. The Bryologist 75: 501–508. |