Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Leucodermia leucomelos is found in messy mats of long thin whitish or grayish straps over rock or wood. The undersurface is covered in white granules (soredia). Long cilia, often whitish at the base, but usually dark brown or black distally, originate from the margins of the lobes. This lichen is foliose, but appears to be fruticose. It definitely has a differentiated undersurface which is not corticate. Apothecia are uncommon. The photobiont is green and single-celled-- probably Trebouxia. The cortex is yellow in KOH.

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Leucodermia leucomelos (with Selaginella underwoodii), photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, along Hwy 152 between Emory Pass and Lower Gallinas Cmpgrd on N-facing rocky ledges, April 11, 2024

Leucodermia leucomelos, habit closeup, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, along Hwy 152 between Emory Pass and Lower Gallinas Cmpgrd on N-facing rocky ledges, April 11, 2024

Leucodermia leucomelos, habit closeup with both surfaces evident, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, along Hwy 152 between Emory Pass and Lower Gallinas Cmpgrd on N-facing rocky ledges, April 11, 2024

Leucodermia leucomelos, cross section of wet mount, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Black Range, along Hwy 152 between Emory Pass and Lower Gallinas Cmpgrd on N-facing rocky ledges, April 11, 2024