Catalog of Lichens from Central New York



Fruticose Lichens
Fruticose lichens are characterized by their erect stalks which have no distinguishable upper and lower surfaces. They are typically highly branched and shrubby (these are the types often used for "shrubbery" in model train displays).



Oakmoss Lichens
Highly branched, pale yellowish green lichen found perched on trees or, infrequently, on the ground.

Evernia mesomorpha
Shrubby tufts of thick branches, frequently divided. Coarse soredia can be found on the branches (see details). Four to eight centimeters long.
Boreal Oakmoss Lichen


Location: Summer Hill.
Details: On hardwood branch
    Identification:
  • Color: Gray to yellow green.
  • This specimen found on: Deciduous branch.
  • Fruiting body: Soredia on thallus branches.



Antler Lichens
Highly branched, pale gray lichen with flattened branches having distinguishable upper and lower surfaces.


Pseudoevernia consocians
Pale gray lobes 1-1.5 mm at the tips. Lower surface is pale at the lobe tips, darkening to black at the center.
Common Antler Lichen
A close European relative, P. furfuracea, is collected for it's fragrance and fixative properties for the perfume industry.


Location: German.
Details: On conifer branch
    Identification:
  • Color: Very pale to medium gray.
  • This specimen found on: Hemlock.
  • Fruiting body: Abundant isidea on lobe surfaces and margins. Apothecia rare.



Beard Lichens
A yellow-green, filamentous, lichen who gets its color and name from having usnic acid. Identifiable to genus by the presence of a central, cartilagenous cord in its branches. This lichen is often difficult to identify to species in the field.


Usnea hirta
"Branches ridged, at least partly angular in cross section; isidea present, not arising from soralia; cortex thin and fragile." [Brodo, 2001]
Bristly Beard Lichen
Recognizable because U. hirta is the only species that is small and shrubby, completely isidiate and has ridged or angular branches.


Location: Ellis Hollow.
Details: None.
    Identification:
  • Color: Pale yellow-green.
  • This specimen found on: Hardwood bark.
  • Fruiting body: Abundant isidea.



Cladonia
A huge genera, well known for its showy podetia. The podetia, tall stalks, are actually vertical extensions of the apothecial bodies. In some Cladonia species the tips of the podetia flare open into cups while in others the fruiting body develops into large brown or bright-red spheres.




Cladonia cristatella
Cladonia cristatella
British Soldiers

One of our most readily identified lichens by its large, bright-red apothocia. It is the only red-fruited cladonia in our area that is entirely without soredia or granules. The squamules vary dramatically from none to many. Commonly found on logs, and soil in dry, sunny, locations.

Location:Solon
Details: None

    Identification
  • Color: Light gray-green podetia
  • Specimen found on: Thin, rocky, soil.
  • Fruiting body: Large red apothecia common at tips.

Cladonia cornuta
Cladonia cornuta
Bighorn cladonia

Tall podetia, to 120mm high, with few if any primary squamules. Unbranched and cupless. Farinose sorediate in upper parts of podetia. Found often in thin, rocky soils amongst mosses but sometimes on rotting logs.

Location:Solon
Details: None

    Identification
  • Color: Green to brown.
  • Specimen found on: Rocky soil.
  • Fruiting body: Apothecia, rare, at tips.

Cladonia coniocraea
Podetia growing upward from the center of rather large squamules.
Common powderhorn


Location: Ithaca
Details: None.
    Identification:
  • Color: Thallus olive to gray-green; apothecia brown.
  • This specimen found on: Bark.
  • Fruiting body: Podetia, unbranched, 10-25mm tall, tapered. Powdery soredia covering podetia. Apothecia rare.

Cladonia pyxidata
Goblet-shaped podetia. Brown apothecia on cup margins. Primary squamules tongue-shaped.
Pebbled Pixie-cup


Location: German
Details: Abundant, thick, squamules, Another View.
    Identification:
  • Color: Thallus olive to gray-green; apothecia brown.
  • This specimen found on: Acid soil.
  • Fruiting body: Podetia, unbranched, less than 30mm tall. Flattened, round areoles inside and outside of cups. Apothecia on cup margins.

Cladonia fimbriata
Trumpet Lichen
Tall, narrow, trumpet-shaped podetia. Surface covered with fine farinose soredia. Primary squamules lobed.

Location: McGraw
Details: Closeup of trumpet bowl interior, Side of trumpet bowl.
    Identification:
  • Color: Gray-green to olive-green.
  • This specimen found on: Decaying tree wood.
  • Fruiting body: Apothecia brown.

Cladonia cariosa
Split-peg lichen
Large brown apothecia atop ragged podetia that lacks soredia. Tiny, thick, squamules elongate, less than 2 x 3mm.

Location: South Cortland
Details: Closeup of podetia, Another specimen.
    Identification:
  • Color: Gray-green.
  • This specimen found on: Eroding soil in full sun on the edge of a forest.
  • Fruiting body: Large, chocolate-brown, apothecia.

Cladonia cervicornis ssp. verticillata
Ladder lichen
The only sub-species in this area; readily identified by the podetial stem growing through the center of lower cups.

Location: Ithaca
Details: Side view of podetia.
    Identification:
  • Color: Gray-green.
  • This specimen found on: Thin soil in open area near road, under tree, near small stream.
  • Fruiting body: Tiny brown apothecia on cup margins.

Cladonia macilenta
Lipstick Powderhorn lichen
Tall, slender, podetia topped with small, bright red, apothecia. Podetia often thicker at the top.

Location: Dryden
Details: Primary squamules, On rock with scale.
    Identification:
  • Color: Gray-green.
  • This specimen found on: Small Rock.
  • Fruiting body: Red Apothecia.