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.
Distribution: N - Frl (Tretiach 2015), Ven (Tretiach 1993, Nascimbene & Caniglia 2000b, 2002c, 2003c, Nascimbene & al. 2006e, 2008d), TAA (Tretiach 1993, Nascimbene & Caniglia 2000b, 2002c, Kroken & Taylor 2001, Caniglia & al. 2002, Högberg & al. 2002, De Marco & al. 2003, Nascimbene & al. 2005, 2006, 2006e, 2007b, 2008c, 2008d, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2014c, 2022, Nascimbene 2006b, 2006c, 2008b, 2013, 2014, Thor & Nascimbene 2007, Lang 2009, Brackel 2013, Nascimbene & Marini 2015, Nimis & al. 2015, Lich. Ital. Exs. 1: Puntillo & al. 2017, Ament-Velásquez & al. 2021, Trindade & al. 2021), Lomb (Tretiach 1993, Rivellini 1994, Alessio & al. 1995, Serio & al. 2001, Dalle Vedove & al. 2004, Nascimbene & al. 2006e, Ravera & al. 2016, Gheza 2019), Piem (Tretiach 1993, Caniglia & al. 1992, Morisi & Sereno 1995, Triebel 1997, Isocrono & al. 2003, Morisi 2005, Isocrono & Piervittori 2008, Ravera & al. 2016, Hafellner 2024), VA (Tretiach 1993, Borlandelli & al. 1996, Piervittori & Isocrono 1997, 1999, Revel & al. 2001, Bergamaschi & al. 2004, Matteucci & al. 2008, 2008c, Loppi 2014, Lich. Ital. Exs. 40: Isocrono & al. 2020, Hafellner 2023, Burguera & al. 2024), Emil (Fariselli & al. 2020), Lig. C - Tosc (Benesperi & al. 2007). S - Cal (Puntillo 1996).
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.
Note: a circumboreal-montane lichen growing on the bark of coniferous trees, mostly on Larix and Pinus cembra, more rarely on lignum, near treeline; common and locally abundant only in parts of the Alps with a continental climate, but exceptionally occurring also in the mountains of Calabria. Ament-Velásquez & al. (2021) reported also L. lupina from South Tyrol, a cryptic species, apparently much rare in the Alps than L. vulpina, which is virtually indistinguishable without molecular data.
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
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: absent
Submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Humid mediterranean belt: absent
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
INDEX FUNGORUM GBIF DOLICHENS

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



Felix Schumm - CC BY 4.0
[VZ1072], Maroccanum Regnum. Atlas Medius. Mischliffen, prope oppidum Azrou, 2000 m. In silva Cedrorum, ad truncos Cedri atlanticae. Leg. W. L. Culberson (no. 15110) et C. F. Culberson, 28.5.1971. EX A. VEZDA LICHENES SELECTI EXSICCATI NR. 1072.



Felix Schumm - CC BY 4.0
[VZ1072], Maroccanum Regnum. Atlas Medius. Mischliffen, prope oppidum Azrou, 2000 m. In silva Cedrorum, ad truncos Cedri atlanticae. Leg. W. L. Culberson (no. 15110) et C. F. Culberson, 28.5.1971. EX A. VEZDA LICHENES SELECTI EXSICCATI NR. 1072.