Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Leptogium saturninum (Dickson) Nyl.
Bearded Jelly Skin
Leptogium saturninum is a smooth olive brown to grayish foliose cyanolichen that grows on wood or mossy rock.
On close examination, like L. pseudofurfuraceum, the thallus lobes may have large numbers of cylindrical isidia on the body or
margins.
Apothecia are not common. Unlike L. pseudofurfuraceum, the body of the thallus of L. saturninum is not wrinkled and may be
shiny as well as smooth.
The undersurface is covered in dense whitish hairs (whitish tomentum).
The photobiont is a cyanobacterium (Nostoc) that is found in chains throughout the medulla and not limited to a photobiont layer.
We found Leptogium saturninum on a mossy, moist rocky outcrop.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Leptogium saturninum, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, smooth upper surface with granular isidia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, smooth upper surface with granular isidia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, photomicrograph of whitish tomentum on undersurface of thallus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, photomicrograph of granular isidia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, photomicrograph moistened upper surface of thallus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, moistened upper surface of thallus, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, photomicrograph thallus cross section, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
Leptogium saturninum, photomicrograph thallus cross section demonstrating chains of Nostoc, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, March 2, 2020
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