SPECIES FACT SHEET Common Name: Lamb’s navel lichen (a.k.a. windward rocktripe) Scientific Name: Umbilicaria lambii Imshaug Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Umbilicariales Family: Umbilicariaceae Technical Description: Thallus stratified, crustose/squamulose, dark brown to black, to 3 mm thick, closely and broadly attached to substrate, upper surface divided into numerous polygonal plates; isidia and soredia lacking; green algal photobiont. Apothecia common. Spores not described. Chemistry: of little diagnostic value in the genus. Distinctive features: The crustose/squamulose growth form is unusual in a genus characterized by foliose, umbilicate thalli. Few species of other lichen genera exhibit the combination of traits that include a very dark upper surface composed of irregular polygonal plates, absence of perithecia, a geen algal photosymbiont, and a typical habitat of rock on exposed higher elevation (often subalpine- alpine) ridges. Similar species: The growth form of some Xanthoparmelia species can superficially resemble that of Umbilicaria lambii, but the thalli of these species are typically yellowish green to pale green. Life History: Details for Umbilicaria lambii are not documented. Given the absence of soredia and isidia within the species, it is reasonable to assume asexual reproduction by fragmentation of thalli plays some role in maintenance and spread of populations. Establishment of new thalli by sexual means is poorly understood in lichens, in general. Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Known from British Columbia, Alberta, western Montana, the Washington Cascades and Del North County, California. The Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria lists two records for Washington: Lewis County, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Butter Creek Research Natural Area (Riley, 7/1998); Skamania County, south slope of Mt. St. Helens on loop trail (McCune, 9/1977). It is reasonable to suspect presence of Umbilicaria lambii in rocky, exposed habitats at subalpine and alpine habitats on all Cascadian national forests in Oregon and Washington. Habitat Associations: Typically found on rock on exposed, higher elevation ridges. The site in Del Norte County, California, is on a wind and fog swept ridge at about 1700 m (5580 ft.) elevation, within 50 km (31 mi.) of the coast. The site in Lewis County, Washington is on rock at elevation of 5140 ft. on subalpine to alpine ridge with Abies lasiocarpa, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis and Tsuga mertensiana on lower slopes of ridge. The Skamania County, 1 Washington site is at elevation of 4640 ft. on a rocky promontory on subalpine boulder slope with scattered Abies lasiocarpa. Threats: Threats from local management actions such as prescribed fire, fire suppression, or livestock grazing would seem to be low at subalpine and alpine elevations. New road or trail construction could eliminate all or portions of small populations that were not detected prior to construction. Conservation Considerations: Consider efforts to relocate the known sites and conduct local surveys to better understand extent of local populations. Consider periodic monitoring visits to the re-located known sites. Consider surveys in appropriate habitats at subalpine and alpine elevations in the Oregon and Washington Cascades. Consider conducting pre-project surveys for any new trail or road construction at subalpine or alpine elevations on federal lands in the Oregon and Washington Cascades. Conservation rankings: G2G4; WANHP S1, proposed endangered; not listed by ORBIC. Preparer: Rick Dewey Date Completed: 6/18/2015 Edited by: Rob Huff Date Completed: 8/5/2015 References: Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria at www.pnwherbaria.org, visited 6/9/2015. Goward, Trevor, Bruce McCune and Del Meidinger. 1994. The Lichens of British Columbia, Illustrated Keys, Part 1 – Foliose and Squamulose Species. Ministry of Forests Research Program. McCune, Bruce and Linda Geiser. 1997. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press in co-publication with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center. 2013. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon. Institute for Natural Resources, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. 2 Peterson, Eric. 2003. Clarification of three Umbilicaria species new to California. Bulletin of the California Lichen Society 10(1), 2003. Washington State Department of Natural Resources. 2014. Washington Natural Heritage Program Proposed List of Rare Lichens at <www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/lists/lichens.html> Accessed 6/9/2015. Ways of Enlichenment Photo Gallery @ www.waysofenlichenment.net/lichens Umbilicaria lambii Imshaug. Photographed by Jason Hollinger, British Columbia, Wells Gray, Raft Mountain, 8/20/2009, on alpine outcrop (det. by T. Goward). Photo accessed at http://www.waysofenlichenment.net 3 .