Field Key to Common Brown Foliose Lichens
1a Thallus very thin, tightly appressed lacking rhizines; lobes narrow, less than 0.5 mm wide (genus Hyperphyscia)………………………………. 2
1b Thallus of ordinary thickness; lobes greater than 0.5 mm wide……………………………………. 3
2a Soredia present; apothecia usually lacking………………………….. Hyperphyscia adglutinata
2b Soredia lacking; apothecia common and abundant………………….. Hyperphyscia syncolla
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Hyperphyscia-syncolla1-1000x750.jpg)
Hyperphyscia syncolla
3a Color deep olive-brown; cortex thin and fragile; thallus with tiny isidia clustered in soralialike groups……. Melanelixia subaurifera
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Melanelixia-subaurifera-1-1000x750.jpg)
Melanelexia subaurifera
3b Color light to dark chocolate brown; cortex of typical thickness; soredia, if present, powdery or coarse, but not tiny………………………………. 4
4a Medulla bright orange…………….. Phaeophyscia rubropulchra
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Phaeophyscia-rubropulchra-1-1000x750.jpg)
Phaeophyscia rubropulchra
4b Medulla white………………………………………….. 5
5a Soredia lacking; apothecia common and abundant………………………………………………… 6
6a Rims of apothecia adorned with strap-shaped lobules……………………… Anaptychia palmulata
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Anaptychia-palmulata-1-1000x750.jpg)
Anaptychia palmulata
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ANAPPALM-3x-sidelight-1000x667.jpg)
The apothecia are like little fans or something.
6b Rims of apothecia smooth, lacking lobules………………………………….. Phaeophyscia ciliata
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Phaeophyscia-ciliata-1-1000x750.jpg)
Phaeophyscia ciliata
5b Soredia present………………………………………… 6
6a Hairs projecting from lobe tips…. Phaeophyscia hirsuta
6b Hairs absent from lobe tips………………………… 7
7a Soralia headlike, on margins or small lateral lobes……………………. Phaeophyscia pusilloides
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Phaeophyscia-pusilloides-1-1000x750.jpg)
Phaeophyscia pusilloides
7b Soralia diffuse or linear…………… Phaeophyscia adiastola
![](https://ohiomosslichen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/species-Phaeophyscia-adiastola-1-1000x750.jpg)
Phaeophyscia adiastola