Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Aspicilia cinerea (Linnaeus) Korber
Cinder Lichen
Aspicilia cinerea is a crustose lichen that grows on rock-- found in the Gila area growing on granite. The thallus is gray to white with immersed black apothecia. The photobiont is bright green and found in the rim of the apothecia. The cortex has a strong red reaction to KOH. The asci contain 4-8 ascospores that are about 20 microns long and 10 microns wide when mature.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Aspicilia cinerea, growing on granite boulder, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, macro, growing on granite boulder, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of tiles with apothecia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of tiles with apothecia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of cross section of apothecium, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of cortex red KOH reaction, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of ascus with ascospores, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
Aspicilia cinerea, photomicrograph of ascus with ascospores, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, March 5, 2018
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