Physconia species
Segregated from Physcia approx. 20 yrs. ago, the “frost lichen” genus Physconia is characterized by a foliose, brownish-gray to brown thallus, corticate above and below; lobes elongate, up to 2 mm wide; upper surface, especially the lobe tips, heavily pruinose. Four species occur in Ohio, of which two —P. detersa and P. leucoleiptes –are the more common, and especially difficult to distinguish from one another.
putative Physconia detersa on cemetery headstone with Xanthomendoza sp.photo by Bob Klips
pruinose lobes of putative Physconia detersa photo by Bob Klips
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES of P. detersa: Upper surface pruinose, mostly marginal, linear soredia; all spot test negative. Medium size; whitish color; cylindrical isidia; black undersurface; medulla C+ rose; A quite variable species, e.g. soredia dense throughout to entirely marginal, isidiate at times; lobe size variable; pruinia dense or only at tips. compare with P. leucoleiptes, which has labriform soralia and the soredia are KC+ yellow-orange, P. kurokawae with the medulla C+ red; and P. subpallidsa, which is rare, NIS.
ECOLOGY of P. detersa: Found in the eastern US and on the west coast; widespread in Ohio probably present in every county; very common on cemetery headstones; less frequently on bark.
putative Physconia leucoleiptes on bark at base of tree photo by Bob Klips
DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES of P. leucoleiptes: Upper surface pruinose, mostly marginal, soredia in labriform soralia, KC+ yellow-orange; medulla K-,C-, KC-; this species is very similar to P. detersa and P. kurokawae but lacks the linear marginal soralia of these two species and has a different chemistry.
ECOLOGY of P. leucoleiptes: Found in the eastern US within the same range as the more common P. detersa; widespread in Ohio, probably more common in the western counties; on cemetery headstones and bases, more rarely on non-acidic bark. This species, along with P. kurokawae, was formerly lumped with P. detersa and the Ohio distribution is probably incomplete.