Boreal Oakmoss

Appearance

Life habit: lichenized (mutualistic with algal photobionts) thallus: fruticose (fruticous), shrub-like, beard-like [th marginal and upper surface] specific structures: present [th margin] cilia, cilioid structures: absent [th upper surface] isidia, isidioid structures: present [th upper surface] soredia, soralia, soralioid structures: present ascomata: absent | present ascoma: apothecial, apothecioid – hymenial [ascm] paraphyses/-oids: present asci: lecanoralean [asc] tholus: thickened [asc] tholus amyloidity (iodine reaction): present [asc] tholus amyloidity pattern: amyloid with widening axial body towards the apex (= Lecanora-, Parmelia-, Rinodina-types etc) ascospores: (median) 8.0 [asp] septa: absent – spore lumen unilocular, monolocular [asp] pigmentation: hyaline, colourless [asp] perispore, epispore: not apparent secondary metabolites: present secondary metabolites: divaricatic acid | usnic acid primary photobiont: present secondary photobionts (eg in cephalodia): absent primary photobiont: chlorophytaceous – trebouxiaceous, chlorococcoid.

Distribution

Boreal oakmoss is found in coniferous forests in cooler climates. In North America, it is found throughout Canada and in the northern United States.