Leptogium cochleatum (Dicks.) P.M. Jørg. & P. James

Lichenologist, 15: 113, 1983. Basionym: Lichen cochleatus Dicks. - Fasc. Crypt. Brit., 1: 13, 1785.
Synonyms: Leptogium azureum auct. p.p.
Distribution: C - Laz. S - Cal (Puntillo 1996), Si (Grillo 1998, Grillo & Caniglia 2004, Ottonello & al. 2011).
Description: Thallus foliose, subgelatinous when wet, lead-grey, 100-150(-200) µm thick, forming extensive up to 10 cm wide patches. Lobes finely striate, rounded, flat, (3-)5-8(-10) mm wide, with wavy, often ascending margins. Lower surface usually paler than upper surface, not tomentose. Upper and lower cortex composed of a single layer of angular cells. Apothecia frequent, lecanorine, (0.5-)1-3(-4) mm across, sessile and constricted at base, sometimes slightly stipitate, with a flat to slightly convex, reddish brown disc, and a finely striate, thin but persistent thalline margin. Thalline exciple 70-150 µm wide laterally; proper exciple c. 25 µm wide, paraplectenchymatous; epithecium orange-brown to yellowish brown; hymenium colourless, 125-140 µm high, K/I+ blue; hypothecium colourless, prosoplectenchymatous. Asci 8-spored, cylindrical-clavate, the apex strongly thickened, the apical dome K/I+ pale blue, with a downwardly projecting K/I+ deep blue tubular structure. Ascospores muriform, hyaline, ellipsoid with pointed ends, (20-)25-32(-37) x (10-)13-15(-17) µm. Photobiont cyanobacterial (Nostoc, the individual cells 2-4 µm wide, arranged in long chains). Spot tests: all negative. Chemistry: without lichen substances.
Note: a mild-temperate to Mediterranean species found on mossy trees and rocks in ancient, humid woodlands of Tyrrhenian Italy. It is included in the Italian red list of epiphytic lichens as “Vulnerable” (Nascimbene & al. 2013c).
Growth form: Foliose, broad lobed
Substrata: bark
Photobiont: cyanobacteria, filamentous (e.g. Nostoc, Scytonema)
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
Most common in areas with a humid-warm climate (e.g. most of Tyrrenian Italy)

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: absent
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: extremely rare
Submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Padanian area: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: very rare
Humid mediterranean belt: extremely rare
Dry mediterranean belt: 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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Predictive model
Herbarium samples

Leif Stridvall http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/ Courtesy: Anita Stridvall



Felix Schumm; Owner: Felix Schumm



Felix Schumm; Owner: Felix Schumm



Felix Schumm; Owner: Felix Schumm



Felix Schumm; Owner: Felix Schumm



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (1453)
2001/11/26


Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall



Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
Image from: F. Schumm (2008) - Flechten Madeiras, der Kanaren und Azoren. Beck, OHG - ISBN: 978-3-00-023700-3


Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


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


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