The Flora of Santa Barbara Island,

Charis C. Bratt Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Santa Barbara, CA. 93105

no one has attempted to prepare an inventory Abstract - This paper constitutes the second of the from this lovely island. Lichens investigation of the lichens of Santa Barbara are evident everywhere on the island, are Island. The collections made on the island by prolific in some areas and are dominant in Blanche Trask in 1901-1902 were previously certain habitats. The lack of a lichen flora is reported by Hasse (1903a-d, 1913). The known more a reflection of the paucity of lichen work lichen flora is increased from 22 to 64 species. in general rather than a reflection on the A checklist of the lichen species collected on lichens of Santa Barbara Island. Santa Barbara Island is included. Methods and Materials This report is the result of four collecting Introduction trips to Santa Barbara Island from 1983 to A survey of the historic record indicates that 1987. Most areas of the island were surveyed Blanche Trask is the only person known to have except for the cliffs and the unstable cliff tops collected lichens on Santa Barbara Island. Trask on the southwestern portion of the island. The lived on Santa Catalina Island from 1895 to north-facing vertical cliffs were visited with the 1907 and during those years visited and assistance of the island ranger who found a way collected plants, lichens and artifacts from all of to reach a single ledge on the north face. the southern and northern Channel Islands off Specimens were collected at all areas visited. California. She visited Santa Barbara Island in Identifications were made using standard May 1901 and again in May 1902. Her lichen microscopic techniques and chemical spot tests. collections were identified by Hermann E. Thin layer chromatography was done on all Hasse, M.D., who later published the results specimens using Merck's aluminum (1903a-d, 1913). Trask's collections were lost in sheets coated with silica gel. The solvent used the California Academy of Sciences fire was toluene (140 parts): ethylacetate (80): formic following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake acid (8). The plates were dried, then sprayed and her personal herbarium was destroyed by with H2SO4 and developed by heating in an the 1915 fire in Avalon. A few of her specimens oven at 100°C for about 10 minutes or until the survived in Hasse's personal herbarium but norstictic acid control turned bright yellow. were dispersed among several herbaria when Not all specimens could be identified, Hasse's collections were dispersed. A specimen reflecting the state of lichen at this from Santa Barbara Island of Buellia puctata is time. Such collections will be available for known to be at the New York Botanical future taxonomic workers. The identification of Gardens. No other specimens from Santa several specimens was provided or confirmed by Barbara Island collected by Trask have been lichenologists in this country and in Canada. located to date. A total of 22 species of lichens Voucher specimens of all species are housed at were recorded by Hasse (1903 a-d, 1913). the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Standing in the midst of the lichen fields on and a partial set is at the National Museum of Santa Barbara Island, it is hard to believe that Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.

Third California Islands Symposium 59 Results Caloplaca, are found on all parts of Santa Sciences Department of Santa Barbara City Buellia cerussata Llim. ex Werner. Common on rocks Barbara Island. Eleven species have been From the lichen collections made, 64 species College provided valuable assistance with thin- throughout the island. Identified as Buellia identified, nine from rock substrates and two of lichens have been identified. Of these, 16 layer chromatography. Special thanks are due stellulata in material collected by Trask. from plants. Unfortunately there are no species were found on plants and 52 species Peter A. Bowler, Irwin Brodo, Mason E. Hale, Buellia haIonia (Ach.) Tuck. Found on rocks in modern taxonomic works on this and were found on rocks and/or soil. Only (our Bruce McCune, John Sheard, William A. Landing Cove. several species cannot be identified positively at species were found on both substrates. Weber and Clifford Wetmore for their Buellia punctata (Hoffm.) Mass. On rocks in Landing this time. Cove and along the Nature Trail. Identified as The low number of species found on plants assistance in identifying or confirming the The genus Niebla, a light grey-green Buellia myriocarpa and as B. punctata punctata in reflects the fact that on Santa Barbara Island identification of specimens. material collected by Trask. there are no trees or large shrubs. The largest fruticose lichen, is richly represented. One species occurs on plants and five species on Caloplaca bolacina (Tuck.) Herre. Common on rocks plant on the island, Coreopsis gigantea, served as Literature Cited rocks. Taxonomic work is incomplete and three throughout the island. Identified as Placodium the substrate for 13 of the 16 species found on bolacinum in material collected by Trask. of the species found on the island do not have Dibben, M.J. 1980. The chemosystematics of the plants. The distribution of lichen species within Caloplaca californica Zahlbr. Found in large, validly published names. Although found in lichen genus Pertusaria in North America north of the various Coreopsis populations would be an conspicuous patches on the stems and branches of most of the island habitats, they are most Mexico. Milwaukee Public Museum, Pub. Bio. Coreopsis gigantea. interesting topic for further study. Lycium Geol.No. 5:1-162. prevalent on the islands south-facing cliffs. Caloplaca cerina (Ehrh.) Th. Fr. Lichen with small, cailifornicum, a small dense shrub, yielded 7 Hasse, H.E . 1903a. Contributions to the lichen-flora While some lichens are abundant, others are dark orange apothecia on the twigs of Lycium. species of lichens. Opuntia littoralis and 0. of the California coast islands. Bull. So. Calif. notable for their scarcity. Teloschistes villosus was Identified as Placodium cerinum in material prolifera also have been found with lichens. It is Acad. Sci. 2(2):23-26. thought to be extinct within the United States collected by Trask. difficult to impossible to collect lichens from 1903b. Contributions to the lichen-flora of Caloplaca erythrocarpa (Pers.) Zwack. Grows on the cacti so only three lichen species can be until collected on Santa Barbara Island in 1985. the California coast islands. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. volcanic tuff found on Signal Peak. confirmed from these spiny plants. It was found growing on Lycium californicum Sci. 2(3):33-35. *Caloplaca flavorubescens (Huds.) Laundon. Identified along the north ridge of Graveyard Canyon. In 1903c. Additions to the lichen-flora of The most obvious lichens are those that as Placodium aurantiacum in material collected by 1987 this area was inaccessible clue to pelican . Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci. grow on rocks all over the island. Even in the Trask. nesting activity. A second, small population has 2(4):52-54. midst of the grasslands, wherever a rock Caloplaca modesta (Zahlbr.) Fink. On rocks along cliff been found in the Coreopsis patch on North 1903d. Additions to the lichen-flora of protrudes above the surface, it is richly coated top on west side of island. Peak. southern California, Part II. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Caloplaca rosei Hasse. Common throughout the with crustose lichens of a diversity of colors. Sci. 2(5):58-60. Flavoparmelia caperata is common on the island. Loses its characteristic lacy prothallus One of the most significant lichen 1913. The lichen flora of southern adjacent mainland where its habitat is on trees. when it overgrows other crustose lichens. communities is one which is the rarely seen. California. Contrib. U.S. Nat. Her. 17(1):1-132. On Santa Barbara Island, it has been collected Caloplaca saxicola (Hoffm.) Nordin. Fairly common, This is the fog zone lichen community that Imshaug, H.A. 1951. The lichen-forming species of only in two very restricted locations where it especially on north facing slopes. inhabits north-facing vertical cliffs. Although the genus Buellia occurring in the United States grows on the ground. *Caloplaca siderites (Tuck.) Zahlbr. Identified as access to these cliffs is nearly impossible, and Canada. Ph.D. dissertation, University of It is very difficult to compare the historic Placodium cerinum sideritis in material collected by several of these lichens can be found on the Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 217 pp. Trask. record of specimens to those collected for this Philbrick, R.M. 1972. The plants of Santa Barbara north-facing slopes of Cat, Middle and Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Mull. Arg. Inconspicuous study. On the surface, it seems as though only Island, California. Madrono 2I(5):329-393. Graveyard Canyons and also on the north faces on rocks on Signal Peak. 10 of the 22 species have been recollected. Weber, W.A. 1975. Lichenes Exsiccati. University of a few rock outcrops on the western side of Caloplaca verruculifera (Vain.) Zahlbr. An uncommon However, it is likely that some or all of the of Colorado Museum: Boulder, CO. Fasc. 12 (no. the island. The whole north side of the island sorediate Caloplaca on rocks on the southeastern unrecollected species were mis-identified. Until 441-465). with its steep cliff faces are densely covered bluff. the actual specimens can be located, if indeed with these lichens. The grey color of the cliffs, Caloplaca sp."A". Conspicuous, especially when wet, they still exist, it remains in the realm of Appendix 1 as seen from the ocean, is not a mineral color, with yellowgold thallus and rusty orange speculation. but is derived from the lichens. Fruticose Checklist of Lichen Species on Santa Barbara Island, apothecia. An undescribed species also found on lichens such as Dendrographa leucophaea, D . California. (* = not collected by the author). . minor, fimbriata, Combea Californica and Acknowledgments Acarospora schleicheri (Ach.) Mass. The only bright *Catillaria franciscana (Tuck.) Herre. Identified as yellow lichen on the island. Found in Cat Biatora franciscana in material collected by Trask. several Niebla spp. form thick mats while This work could not have been accomplished Canyon, Signal Peak and along the west side to Cladonia pyxidata (L.) Hoffm. Known only from one crustose species such as Dimelaena radiata, without the cooperation and assistance of the Elephant Seal Cove. Identified as Lecanora small patch on the north facing slope in Upper Reinkella parishii, Schismatomma hypothallinum Channel Islands National Park-William PI. zanthophana in material collected by Trask. Cave Canyon. and Opegrapha calcarea coat any open spaces. Ehorn, Superintendent, and Island Rangers Arthonia impolita (Ehrh. ex Hoffm.) Borr. On Collema crispum (Huds.) Wigg. Large patch on Orange lichens, mostly species in the genus Don Unser and Reed McCluskey. The Life Opuntia and Lycium in Cat and Middle Canyons. ground along the trail to the landing dock.

60 61 farinacea (L.) Ach. On Coreopsis on North Siphula sp. A sorediate, infertile soil lichen Combea californica (Th. Fr.) Follm. & Geyer. *Niebla cephalota (Tuck.) Rundel & Bowler. distributed as #455 in the Lichenes Exsiccati, Prominent fruticose lichen common in the fog Identified as Roccella ceruchis var. cephalota in Peak. University of Colorado Museum. Probably not a zone community. material collected by Trask. *Ramalina fraxinea (L.) Ach. Identified as Roccella Siphula but no one has come up with a better Dendrographa leucophaea (Tuck.) Darb. North-facing Niebla ceruchis (Ach.) Rundel & Bowler. Common on calicaris in material collected by Trask. name to date. cliffs in the fog zone community. Also on Lychium the twigs of Lycium. Also found on Coreopsis and Reinkella parishii Hasse. Major component of the fog- Teloschistes villosus (Ach.) Norm, Rare. On Lycium in on south-facing cliffs. both Opuntia species. zone community in eastern canyons and north- Dendrographa minor Darb. Fairly widely distributed *Niebla combeoides (Nyl.) Rundel & Bowler. Graveyard Canyon and on Coreopsis on North Peak. facing cliffs. in the fog zone community. Identified as Roccella combioides in material Verrucaria cf. glaucina Ach. Very common, dark Rinodina angelica Stirtz. A single population collected Dimelaena radiata (Tuck.) Hale & Culb. The most collected by Trask. grey crustose lichen found all over the island. on soil on the point east of Shag Rock. common, white crustose lichen on Santa Barbara Niebla homalea (Ach.) Rundel & Bowler. The most Xanthoria candelaria (L.) Th. Fr. This bright orange Island. Thallus distinctly lobed. common species of Niebla found everywhere on *Rinodina exigua (Ach.) Gray. In material collected foliose lichen imparts a "fuzzy" appearance to Diploma canescens (Dicks.) Mass. Common on both the island. Identified as Ramalina homalea in by Trask. many rocks on the island. Also found on Coreopsis. plants and rocks. material collected by Trask. Roccella babingtonii Mont. Another member of the Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. A common lobed Diploschistes scruposus (Schreb.) Norm. On soil in Niebla robusta (Howe) Rundel & Bowler. On rocks lichen on Lycium twigs and on Coreopsis. Probably Landing Cove. fog zone lichen community in eastern canyons primarily in the eastern canyons. Dirina catalinariae Hasse f. sorediata Tehler. A and north-facing cliffs. not the X. parietina originally described from Niebla sp. "A". Found on rocks. Notable features are crustose lichen common in the fog zone Schismatomma hypothallinum (Zahlbr.) Hasse. A white Europe, but until a thorough study of the genus in the split tips and the pycnidia. Both sorediate and community on all parts of the island. crustose lichen of the fog zone community. North America is undertaken, the name Hasse esorediate morphs. Endocarpon pusillum Hedw. A small, dark brown, applied to this species will be used. Identified as Niebla sp. "B". A smooth version of N . homalea found *Schismatomma pluriloculare (Zahlbr.) In material hard-to-find squamulose lichen found on soil and Teloschistes parietina in material collected by Trask. on north-facing rocks. collected by Trask. rock. Niebla sp. "C" . Resembles N . robusta except for Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale. Growing on soil in consistently smaller size and a shiny thallus. Landing Cove. Opegrapha calcarea Turn. ex Sm. A prominent, white- Heteradermia cf. erinacea (Ach.) Weber. Very small grey crustose lichen on the north-facing cliffs. specimens found on rock outcrops on Signal Peak. Pannaria leucophaea (Vahl.) Joerg. A dark brown, Lecania brunonis (Tuck.) Herre. A brown crustose minutely foliose lichen that blends with its lichen found on rock outcrops on Signal Peak. Lecania dudleyi Herre. A dark brown crustose lichen substrate. found on volcanic tuff and other rocks. Signal Peltula bolanderi (Ach.) Wetm. A small, dark Peak and Landing Cove. squamulose lichen found in the eastern canyons. *Lecania spodophaeiza (Nyl.) Smith. Identified as Pertusaria spp. One, possibly two, gray-brown two- Lecanora spodophaeiza in material collected by Trask. spored saxicolous species not included in Dibben's Lecania syringia (Ach.) Th. Fr. An easily overlooked 1980 monograph. Found in several locations species which lives on the trunks of Coreopsis. around the island. Lecanora cenisea Ach. One of several species of grey Physcia aipolia (Ehrh.) Hampe. On Coreopsis and on crustose lichens. Common on pebbles at Arch rocks in the eastern canyons. Point and in Cliff Canyon. *Physcia comosa (Eschw.) Mass. Probably Lecanora dispersa (Pers.) Somm. Another grey misidentified. In material collected by Trask. crustose lichen, found in Cliff Canyon. Physcia phaea (Tuck.) Thoms. The most widespread Lecanora horiza (Ach.) Lindsay. A prominent, lobed species of the Physcia on the island. crustose lichen found on Corcopsis. Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC . On rock, wood (weather *Lecanora varia (Hoffm.) Ach. In material collected station) and Opuntia stems in eastern canyons. by Trask. Physconia distorta (With.) Laundon. Common on *Lecidea symmicta (Ach.) Ach. Identified as Lecanora rock outcrops in Landing Cove. simmicta in material collected by Trask. Polycaulina coralloides (Tuck.) Hue. Found only once Lecidella subincongrua var. elaeochromoides (Nyl.) Hert. along the cliff south of Webster Point. Probably & Leuck. A common, yellow-green crustose more widespread. Identified as Placodium lichen found on the northern part of the island. coralloides in material collected by Trask. Leprocaulon microscopicum (Vill.) Gams. A tiny, Ramalina evernioides Nyl. Grows on Coreopsis on fruticose soil lichen found in the canyons on the North Peak and on Opuntia along the Nature east side of the island. Trail.

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