#lobaria

Lobaria isidiophora

"This species is confined to dark coniferous mountain taiga old-growth forests" in Russia, but also can be found "Scattered in coastal and hinterland forests of eastern Australia" where it is described as a "subtropical-temperate species." So like, girl, pick a lane. L. isidiophora has a large, foliose thallus up to 15 cm wide. Its lobes are long and reticulate-foveolate, with a green-brown upper surface and a pale-tan, reticulately brown-tomentose lower surface. It produces cylindrical to coralloid to antler-shaped isidia along the upper surfaces ridges. It rarely produces apothecia, which have flat, red-brown discs and isidiate margins. It grows on bark and occasionally moist, mossy rock. It can be found in scattered localities in eastern Russia, eastern and southeast Asia, and Australia. And I actually don't want L. isidiophora to pick a lane. I want her to thrive and spread everywhere, as she appears to be an indicator of old-growth forests and good air quality.

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Lobaria pulmonaria

Not only is it known for it having 3 organisms in it's interface unlike most with just a photobiont and mycobiont. This species is a humidity and air quality indicator associated with pureness you can only find in strictly core untouched vast woodlands and temperate rain forest.

Known as the Crown Jewel of America and Tree Lungwort colloquially it harbers a special place in most lichen lovers hearts.

You can find it in good habitat on both east and west coasts with a large blip in the arbuckle mountains on the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas with it's smallest most isolated population in the middle (dead center) of Colorado somewhere.

Low and middle elevations on hardwood bark surfaces (corticulous )

I neeeeeed to get back to Oregon during the rainy season because I’ve never seen so many lungworts (Lobaria sp.) densely packed onto branches. I want to see them when they have been revived by the water.

Lobaria anthraspis

Dimpled specklebelly

I have been saving this lichen for a special occasion because I am so incredibly in love with her that I haven't wanted to free her from my drafts folder. But today is the day. This gorgeous weirdo is a tripartite (has both a green algae AND a cyanobacteria as photobionts) foliose lichen which grows only in the cold, humid forests of western North America. It has leathery, reticulated lobes which vary in color from dark brown (melanized) to gray blue to olive green in color. It produces lots of apothecia which also vary in color from orange to red to brown to black. Like other Lobarias, L. anthraspis prefers old-growth, isolated forests far away from pollution and disturbance. So my current retirement plan is to wander into the forest and settle wherever I find her and live out the rest of my life in peace and joy (the rest of my life not being very long due to the harsh winters of the region, but at least I will go out happy in the presence of the one I love).

images: source