Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue

Nouv. Arch. Mus., sér. 4, 1: 57, 1899. Basionym: Lichen vulpinus L. - Sp. Pl., 2: 1155, 1753.
Synonyms: Chlorea vulpina (L.) Nyl.; Evernia vulpina (L.) Ach.; Parmelia vulpina (L.) Ach.
Description: Thallus fruticose, attached with a basal holdfast, bushy when young to subpendent when well-developed, bright lemon- to sulphur yellow, to 20 cm long (usually much less), irregularly branched, the main branches up to 4 mm wide, angular, often foveolate, the secondary branches thinner, subulate, often forked. Isidia diffuse, granular-sorediose to cylindrical, generally dense, usually developing from cracks on the angles and ridges, where the cortex has degenerated. Cortex c. 40-60 µm thick, filled with yellowish crystals soluble in K, of anticlinally arranged, thick-walled hyphae; medulla white, arachnoid with medullary strands which are thinner in the upper branches, thicker and fusing into a single strand near the base; cell walls with the Cetraria-type lichenan. Apothecia very rare, lecanorine, to 8 mm across, with a brown disc and short marginal projections on the thalline margin. Epithecium brown; hymenium and hypothecium colourless. Asci 8-spored, clavate, the K/I+ blue tholus penetrated by a faintly amyloid apical cushion with parallel or diverging flanks, the wall K/I-, surrounded by a K/I+ blue outer layer, Lecanora-type. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid, 5-8 x 4-5 µm. Pycnidia rare, slightly projecting, black. Conidia sublageniform, (7-)8-9 x c. 1 µm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: cortex and medulla K-, C-, KC-, P-. Chemistry: cortex with vulpinic acid and atranorin; apothecia (hymenium) with norstictic acid.
Growth form: Fruticose

Substrata: bark
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: rather common
Montane belt: absent
Dry submediterranean belt: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent

pH of the substrata:

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Solar irradiation:

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Aridity:

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Eutrophication:

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Poleotolerance:

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Altitudinal distribution:

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Rarity

absent
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Occurrence data
Predictive map
Model ImageCurrent prediction (1981-2010)
Model ImageFuture prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6
Model ImageFuture prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5
Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025

Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php


P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (5256)
2002/02/24


P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (5652)
2002/02/24
soredia


P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (37028)
2008.02.28


P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (37028)
2008.02.28


P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (37028)
2008.02.28


Jessica Bonazzi; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Veneto, Belluno, Casera Razzo, lariceta presso la malga, ca. 1700 m
2008.08.27


Jessica Bonazzi; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Veneto, Belluno, Casera Razzo, lariceta presso la malga, ca. 1700 m
2008.08.27


Jessica Bonazzi; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Veneto, Belluno, Casera Razzo, lariceta presso la malga, ca. 1700 m
2008.08.27


Jessica Bonazzi; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Veneto, Belluno, Casera Razzo, lariceta presso la malga, ca. 1700 m
2008.08.27


Jessica Bonazzi; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Veneto, Belluno, Casera Razzo, lariceta presso la malga, ca. 1700 m
2008.08.27


Paolo Fontanesi; Owner: Paolo Fontanesi
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trento, Val di Genova, tra la Presanella e l'Adamello.
Herbarium: Forum Natura Mediterraneo
2010


Paolo Fontanesi; Owner: Paolo Fontanesi
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trento, Val di Genova, tra la Presanella e l'Adamello.
Herbarium: Forum Natura Mediterraneo
2010


Juri Nascimbene - CC BY-SA 4.0
Paneveggio, Reg. Trentino-Alto Adige Prov. Trento, Italy.
2009


Juri Nascimbene - CC BY-SA 4.0
Stelvio National Park, Reg. Trentino-Alto Adige Prov. Trento, Italy.
07.2005


Juri Nascimbene - CC BY-SA 4.0
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Bolzano/Bozen, Val Mazia
2017


Juri Nascimbene - CC BY-SA 4.0; Owner: ITALIC - Dyades Project - Dept. of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Bolzano/Bozen, Sciliar/Schlern
2007


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Giulio Pandeli
Italy


Giulio Pandeli
Italy


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Vulpinsäurekristall (rekristallisiert in einer Lösung aus Glyzerin und Eisessig ["GE"]; links: Differentialinterferenzkontrast, rechts: Polarisationslicht):


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Vulpinsäurekristalle (rekristallisiert in einer Lösung aus Glyzerin und Eisessig ["GE"]; oben: Differentialinterferenzkontrast, unten: Polarisationslicht)


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Vulpinsäurekristalle (rekristallisiert in einer Lösung aus Glyzerin und Eisessig ["GE"]; Differentialinterferenzkontrast):


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_L/Letharia_vulpina.htm
France, Névache - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
7/6/2016


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_L/Letharia_vulpina.htm
France, Névache - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
7/6/2016


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_L/Letharia_vulpina.htm
France, Névache - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
7/6/2016


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_L/Letharia_vulpina.htm
France, Névache - Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
7/6/2016


Ulrich Kirschbaum CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: https://www.thm.de/lse/ulrich-kirschbaum/flechtenbilder
Austria: Alps.


Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Switzerland


Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Switzerland


Wolfgang von Brackel - CC BY-4.0
Switzerland


Collezione lichenologica Abramo Massalongo del Museo di Storia Naturale G. Ligabue di Venezia - Autori: Seggi, Linda; Trabucco, Raffaella Proprietà: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - CC BY-NC
Austria, Steiermark, E Styria misit Welwic.
as Evernia vulpina