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Letharia columbiana

(Nutt.) J. W. Thomson

Brown-eyed Wolf Lichen

G4Apparently Secure (G3G5) Found in 193 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.123168
Element CodeNLT0017010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
KingdomFungi
PhylumAscomycota
ClassLecanoromycetes
OrderLecanorales
FamilyParmeliaceae
GenusLetharia
Other Common Names
Wolf Lichen (EN) wolf lichen (EN)
Concept Reference
Esslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4):467-549. As supplied by USDA, NRCS from The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Version: November 19, 1997.
Conservation Status
Review Date2001-01-26
Change Date2001-01-21
Edition Date2001-01-26
Edition AuthorsMcDonald, L., L. Oliver (rev. 2011)
Rank Reasons
"This species can be found widespread throughout the Pacific Northwest but avoiding the immediate coast" (McCune and Geiser 1997). It is found from southern British Columbia south through Idaho and further south to California.
Range Extent Comments
Letharia columbiana occurs in the Pacific Northwest ranging from the southern portion of British Columbia south to California and southwest through northern Idaho and western Montana (Brodo et al. 2001).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Almost always fertile, with large, dark brown apothecia up to 15 mm across, fringed with spiny branchlets; soredia and isidia absent; black pycnidia often abundant (Brodo et al. 2001).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Letharia vulpina is essentially identical to L. columbiana, but does not produce soredia and isidia (McCune and Geiser 2009).

Habitat

Common in subalpine forests, high plateaus and ridges to timberline, occasional in low-elevation forests (McCune and Geiser 2009).
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS4Yes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaSNRYes
WyomingSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (193)
California (100)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest5,832
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,083
Bear Camp FlatModoc National Forest2,471
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Burnt Lava FlowModoc National Forest8,387
Butt Mtn.Lassen National Forest8,217
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Cahuilla MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,952
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChanchelullaShasta-Trinity National Forest3,915
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Cub CreekLassen National Forest8,643
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest6,201
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Elk CreekMendocino National Forest23,182
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
Grizzly PeakPlumas National Forest6,222
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Knox Mtn.Modoc National Forest5,975
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mokelumne - CharityHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest202
MonarchSierra National Forest697
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest7,232
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
Onion SpringsLassen National Forest2,421
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PepperdineModoc National Forest10
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PowleyModoc National Forest6,268
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
QuatalLos Padres National Forest7,253
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
ShuteyeSierra National Forest7,313
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
SoldierModoc National Forest10,102
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
ThatcherMendocino National Forest16,652
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
Wild Cattle MtnLassen National Forest4,965
Idaho (4)
AreaForestAcres
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
Peace RockBoise National Forest191,734
Montana (24)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Big BaldyLewis and Clark National Forest43,135
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
EmerineBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest14,282
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Lincoln GulchHelena National Forest8,250
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
SapphireBitterroot National Forest43,303
SapphiresBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest66,619
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Storm LakeBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest9,324
Ten Lakes #683Kootenai National Forest48,545
Thompson Seton #483Kootenai National Forest29,379
Thompson Seton RA 1483Flathead National Forest52,235
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (4)
AreaForestAcres
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Oregon (33)
AreaForestAcres
Badger CreekMt. Hood National Forest847
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Boulder ParkWallowa-Whitman National Forest12,141
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Devil's GardenWinema National Forest512
Flag CreekMalheur National Forest7,716
Greenhorn MountainMalheur National Forest15,936
Greenhorn Mtn.Umatilla National Forest11,191
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Lake ForkWallowa-Whitman National Forest21,936
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
LookingglassUmatilla National Forest4,859
Lookout MountainOchoco National Forest14,115
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Mt. EmilyWallowa-Whitman National Forest8,421
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. ThielsenWinema National Forest1,153
Myrtle SilviesMalheur National Forest11,679
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest19,670
ReservoirWallowa-Whitman National Forest13,641
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest9,074
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Upper Catherine CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest6,446
Upper Grande RondeWallowa-Whitman National Forest11,723
W. BoundaryWinema National Forest2,345
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
Waldo - LakeWillamette National Forest2,993
Walla Walla RiverUmatilla National Forest34,416
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Washington (23)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Asotin CreekUmatilla National Forest16,433
Bald SnowColville National Forest23,198
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Lion RockWenatchee National Forest4,692
Long DrawOkanogan National Forest3,922
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
ManastashWenatchee National Forest11,155
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
ProfanityColville National Forest28,944
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Stormy Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest32,612
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
TiffanyOkanogan National Forest22,045
Wyoming (5)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Windy MountainShoshone National Forest31,283
References (7)
  1. Berryman, S. and B. McCune. 2006. Estimating epiphytic macrolichen biomass from topography, stand structure and lichen community data. Journal of Vegetation Science 17(2): 157-170.
  2. Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press. New Haven and London. 795 pp.
  3. Esslinger, T. L. 2018. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada, Version 22. Opuscula Philolichenum 17:6-268. [http://sweetgum.nybg.org/philolichenum/]
  4. Esslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4):467-549. As supplied by USDA, NRCS from The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Version: November 19, 1997.
  5. Hutten, M., U. Arup, O. Breuss, T. L. Esslinger, A. M. Fryday, K. Knudsen, J. C. Lendemer, C. Printzen, H. T. Root, M. Schultz, J. Sheard, T. Tønsberg, and B. McCune. 2013. Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi of Yosemite National Park, California. North American Fungi 8(11): 1-47. doi: http://dx.doi:10.2509/naf2013.008.011
  6. McCune, B. and L. Geiser. 1997. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. A co-publication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 386 pp.
  7. McCune, B. and L. Geiser. 2009. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest: Second Edition. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. 448 pp.