Ohio Bryology et Lichenology, Identification, Species, Knowledge
Newsletter of the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association. Volume 8 No. 1. 2011.
Ray Showman and Janet Traub, Editors [email protected], [email protected] ______
LEFT HAND CORNER curiosity about your natural (This Forum was started by Don surroundings. Try to observe the details Flenniken as a place where anyone can of things that you see and discern submit ideas, opinions and editorials.) differences between things. Nature study is fun but it also takes dedication THE VALUE OF AMATEURS and hard work. Much of what we know about species distributions, migrations, phenology, life One of Ohio’s premier naturalists, Jim cycles, nest building, predator-prey McCormac, once told me that “most relationships, etc., etc., is due to the people see plants as a ‘fuzzy green wall’ observations of amateur naturalists. rather than seeing individual plants.” Webster defines amateur as “a person This analogy also works for other who does something for the pleasure of organisms – how many times have you it rather than for money.” These unpaid heard “all lichens (mosses) look the and largely unsung people study nature same to me.” Once you get beyond that for the love of it. Amateur birders have ‘fuzzy green wall’, develop your been especially successful in adding to expertise through books, internet the knowledge base in this area. But the resources, and networking with other amateurs in OMLA have also been very amateurs and professionals. Join an successful in adding to the knowledge of organization devoted to the study of moss, liverwort, and lichen distribution what interests you. Record and in Ohio. They have established photograph your observations. Keep a numerous new county records and have list of species that you have found. added several new lichen and moss Write an article for OBELISK. species to the state list since OMLA was organized. But most importantly, make sure that the results of your study are available to What can amateurs do to improve their others, particularly mainstream scientists value in the study of their particular (university professionals). A very field? I think first of all become active. important aspect of lichen and bryophyte Don’t just be a nature groupie who is study is to properly collect and curate entertained by meetings, workshops and specimens (see Andreas, 2009. field trips, but never progresses to do OBELISK 6:1. Making Useful anything on their own. Develop a Specimens). Collect good specimens passion for nature study. Cultivate a with enough material to show all the
1 diagnostic features. If possible, collect But since it was growing on a tree in a enough material for a duplicate packet if yard that I frequent often and would verification by an expert is required. therefore see regularly, I could not stand Make sure that accurate location and to go another day without knowing what substrate descriptions accompany every it was. As a result of my intense specimen. And last, put your collections curiosity, lichenologist and friend, Ray in a university herbarium where they can Showman, was going to get another e- be studied by others. – Ray mail from me, only this one was going to Showman come with pictures attached.
Found Alive! I had already written a wanted (Alive) article for this issue featuring Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, the Gold- eye Lichen. This is a Great Plains species with only two very old Ohio records. Then I received an e-mail from Brian Riley, a forester already known for his curiosity and sharp eyes. Here follows his story. - Ray Showman
BEGINNER’S LUCK It has been said that it is better to be Teloschistes chrysophthalmus Photo by lucky than good. I think my recent Brian Riley – ODNR Division of Forestry discovery of a lichen not seen anywhere in Ohio for 101 years certainly Two days after my find, I sent Ray reinforces this figure of speech. The digital images of the lichen for his story of this fascinating find takes place examination. Even though they were by on April 7 of this year when I was no means professional grade, he was still inspecting two green ash trees in my able to arrive at a fairly certain brother’s backyard outside of Plain City conclusion just by observing the overall in Union County for signs of emerald thallus structure. Several days later, ash borer infestation. During my survey, after sending him much higher quality I noticed an unusual, somewhat pictures taken on a camera I had just grotesque, yet striking, fruticose lichen received the previous Christmas, Ray growing on the southwest side of the quickly wrote back to inform me that his trunk of one of the two ash trees that had initial suspicion was now a firm been there since the mid to late 1990s. conclusion. The verdict: Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, otherwise known as But wait, there’s more! Upon closer golden-eye lichen, a presumed extirpated inspection I was pleasantly surprised to species not seen in Ohio since it was last find a second, smaller individual of the collected in Erie County in 1910! same kind growing next to its parent. To be honest, if I had found this mysterious I guess the moral of this incredible story lichen on any other property, I most is that we all need to be taking a closer likely would not have aggressively look at our nearby trees because you pursued having it positively identified.
2 never know what you may end up various fruticose (shrubby) lichens in the finding, even in your own backyard. genus Cladonia, including those tangled Brian Riley, ODNR – Division of and puffy ones called “reindeer lichens” Forestry that were for a few decades relegated to their own little genus, Cladina. OHIO MOSS AND LICHEN (Welcome home, reindeer lichens!) ASSOCIATIONS Several tufted, upright (acrocarpous) Because lichens and bryophytes have mosses also thrive in these places, very similar substrate requirements, they including certain haircap mosses in the often co-occur on a given microsite. genus Polytrichum. Didn’t that sound scientific? Yes, but all it actually said was that because lichens A group of confusingly similar ground- and bryophytes occur in the same places, dwelling Cladonia lichens are those that lichens and bryophytes occur in the same produce upright goblet-shaped podetia. places! Perhaps examples will help. Like the reindeer lichens, these “pixie cups” are often mingled with soil Bryophytes and lichens are acrocarpous mosses such as this “poikilohydric,” meaning that they rely Dicranum flagellare, a nifty species completely on the immediate rendered distinctive by its profusion of environment for water. Accordingly they fragile sword-like branches that break are capable of drying out for prolonged off to form new plants. periods, only to rehydrate quickly when it rains or is dewy. This enables growth in intermittent bursts. Mosses and lichens can thereby thrive on what would otherwise be barren sites, i.e., ones so stressful that vascular plants cannot overwhelm these smaller, less competitive organisms
Dicranum flagellare and an unidentified pyxie-cup runneth over in Marion County. Photo by Bob Klips
Perhaps our only easily identified pyxie- cup lichen is Cladonia pyxidata, distinguished by its flat, circular corticate “squamules” lining the insides Polytrichum ohioense and Cladonia of the cups. A very common Ohio soil subtenuis stand their ground in Hocking moss in open areas, especially on banks County. Photo by Bob Klips where pyxie-cups is found, is a robust “pleurocarp” (carpet moss) with deeply Crawling on the ground in sunny areas concave leaves, Bryoandersonia such as glades and barrens we are likely illecebra. to see bryophytes and lichens growing together on the thin dry soil. Expect
3 alkaline soil in open areas. This substrate is also a good one for the dark, tufted moss Schistidium rivulare, an acrocarp that branches more than is typical, and thus approaches pleurocarpy in its growth form.
Cladonia pyxidata and Bryoandersonia illecebra hold up a bank in Delaware County. Photo by Bob Klips
The tops of rocks are prime real estate for organisms that don’t have roots. Hedwigia ciliata is a very common moss with a fairly strict fidelity to acidic Placidium lachneum and Schistidium boulders in both sunny and shady spots. rivulare share the limestone limelight in A sparsely-branched pleurocarp, Marion County. Photo by Bob Klips Hedwigia grows in tufts that ape the reindeer lichens they often grow Lichens, being generally less shade- alongside. tolerant than bryophytes, are correspondingly less frequent in wooded areas. Nonetheless, on hard substrates a few lichen species can gain a foothold. An intriguing crustose lichen, Porpidia albocaerulescens, is quite common on siliceous rocks, and so is often seen with mosses such as Hedwigia ciliata, and, as shown below, Dicranum fulvum.
Cladonia subtenuis and Hedwigia ciliata, shoulder-to-shoulder atop a boulder in Gallia County. Photo by Bob Klips
An interesting lichen growth form, intermediate between crustose and foliose, is an uncommon one called “squamulose.” Squamulose lichens have Porpidia albocaerulescens and a scale-like appearance, but with a partly Dicranum fulvum at a rock concert in layered internal structure much like that Delaware County, Ohio. Photo by Bob of foliose lichens (although lacking a Klips lower cortex and rhizines). Placidium lachneum is an uncommon squamulose Endocarpon pallidum is a squamulose lichen found on limestone or thin lichen that is quite common, although
4 very inconspicuous, on siliceous liverwort, Frullania brittoniae, tends to boulders in woods. As such, it is likely occur on rocks too, so they can be seen to be sharing turf with a number of together. bryophytes, including, as shown below, a drab carpet moss so annoyingly common that we wish it would just stay The co-occurrence of lichen and mosses on logs where it belongs, Platygyrium on rocks can sometimes go unnoticed repens. because the lichen blends in so well. This is another instance of Phaeophyscia adiastola on a boulder, alongside a tufted acrocarpous moss Orthotrichum strangulatum, a saxicolous member of a mainly corticolous genus.
Endocarpon pallidum and Platygrium repens in Franklin County, doing what “Paper” does in “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” Photo by Bob Klips
Phaeophyscia adiastola is a very Phaeophyscia adiastola hides in plain common small-lobed foliose lichen, one sight near Orthotrichum strangulatum in of a few that do well in the shade. Franklin County. Photo by Bob Klips
The “pelts” (genus Peltigera) are large, loosely attached lichens that have a cyanobacterial photobiont.
Phaeophyscia adiastola and Frullania brittoniae growing on a boulder, boldly, in Miami County. Photo by Bob Klips
While it can be distinguished, in part, by Peltigera canina and Anomodon its abundant development of coarsely attenuatus are lithic bedfellows in Meigs granular soredia both on the lobe County. Photo by Bob Klips
surfaces and on their margins, Pelts tend to occur on rocks in open sometimes disk-shaped spore-producing woods. Dog lichen, P. canina, seems to apothecia are produced as well. A be especially common. Anomodon somewhat uncommon, small dark leafy attenuatus is a very common open
5 woodland moss that, while regularly seen at tree bases, often grows on rocks.
One of the most common lichens found high on the bark of trees, even in urban areas, is a tiny but profuse, bright yellow foliose one, Candelaria concolor. A common high-bark moss genus is Orthotrichum (various species, obnoxiously difficult to tell apart). Candelaria and Orthotrichum often Physconia leucoleiptes and Syntrichia grow together. papillosa barking up the right tree in Franklin County. Photo by Bob Klips
Like the people who study them, bryophytes and lichens are often found together. During OMLA forays and workshops we are fortunate to have friendly experts on hand who can help us extend our knowledge to new and unfamiliar cryptogams we might otherwise miss. – Bob Klips
Candelaria concolor and Orthotrichum LICHENS MAY INACTIVATE pusillum, a corticolous combo, in Miami PRIONS County. Photo by Bob Klips Some of the most intriguing and
There’s another high-bark pair. The mystifying infections are those caused moderate-sized, light gray foliose lichen by infection with prions, essentially genus Physconia is distinguished, in slow, self-reproducing proteins that have part, by the strongly “pruinose” (i.e, been incriminated in causing a series of having a powdery bloom) upper surface neurologic maladies with fatal outcomes. of the lobes. Chronic wasting disease, Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, and “mad cow disease” Here, P. leucoleiptes is seen alongside are some notable examples. Some of an intriguing short-stemmed, broad- these diseases are found in humans, but leaved acrocarpous moss, Syntrichia others are found (so far) only in animals. papillosa, that reproduces exclusively by Prions are notoriously difficult to “kill” means of minute globose asexual or inactivate; they are not inactivated by gemmae produced along the upper leaf most detergents, cooking, freezing, or by surface. (The gemmae are not evident in autoclaving, a method used to sterilize the photo because the moss is in its medical instruments. dried-up state, with leaves clinging When prions are released into the tightly to the stem.) environment by infected sheep or deer,
they can stay infectious for many years, even decades. Thus it is important to be able to remove prions from the environment or their means of
6 transmission. Recent research has arrived at the conclusion that the name indicated that lichens have great Punctelia subrudecta is to be rejected potential for safely reducing the number from North American specimens. of prions because some lichen species However, Punctelia perreticulata is contain a naturally-produced protease considered a valid species and known enzyme capable of significantly breaking from southern Ohio. down prions in the lab. Not only are such inactivators rare, those produced by The lichen previously called Punctelia lichens would be excellent choices subrudecta has been found to differ from because so few synthetic inactivators can European species, as well as related be used in the environment safely. North American species in ways significant enough to be regarded as a Lichens produce unique and unusual distinct species. They have concluded organic compounds that aid their that most of the eastern US Punctelia survival and can have antimicrobial with a smooth upper surface, sorediate activities. In fact, pharmaceutical margins and upper surface, C+ red companies have been examining the medulla, and pale lower surface to be medicinal properties of lichens more Punctelia caseana (a new species). It closely with this feature in mind in does, however, have two morphological recent years. Future work will examine forms: one with mostly marginal soredia the effect of lichens on prions in the and one with marginal and laminal environment and determine if lichen soredia, but otherwise indistinguishable consumption in livestock feeds can from each other. protect farm animals from acquiring prion diseases. All of the samples of Punctelia perreticulata studied have lightly Partly because lichens grow so slowly pruinose lobe tips (absent in P. caseana) and rarely under artificial conditions, as well as the ridged upper surface. obtaining any inactivative material under laboratory conditions seems improbable. Rather, the active lichen ingredient would have to be isolated, its chemical structure determined, and a way sought to synthesize this substance in large batch operations similar to the way many antibiotics are produced today. – Bob Burrell
REVISION OF THE LICHEN GENUS PUNCTELIA Punctelia subrudecta is now called P. A recent article in The Lichenologist caseana. Photo by Ray Showman (Lendemer, James C. and Brendan P. Hodkinson. 2010 ) has shed new light on the problematic lichen species commonly referred to as Punctelia subrudecta or Punctelia perreticulata. Using DNA analysis, the authors have
7 Key to Ohio species of Punctelia these deluxe-sized lichens, it is truly a (Modified from Lendemer and memorable sight. This interesting Hodkinson) lichen is attached to vertical rock surfaces by means of a central holdfast 1. Lacking soredia, isidia, and lobules; which resembles the “outie” variety of a medulla C-...……………...P. bolliana belly button (umbilicus). The upper 1. Soredia, isidia, or lobules present; surface of this large, leathery lichen is medulla C+ or C-.....……………...... 2 frequently lacerated along the rim and the upper cortex is usually found with a 2. Thallus isidiate or lobulate .……3 gray-brown to olive-brown color (as 2. Thallus sorediate ………………6 depicted in Fig. 1).
3. Thallus lobulate ……………….4 3. Thallus isidiate ……….………..5
4. Thallus lobulate, medulla C- ...... ……...... P. bolliana 4. Thallus lobulate, medulla C+ red...... ……...... P. missouriensis
5. Thallus with tall, often branched isidia; common... .………...P. rudecta 5. Thallus with flattened, squamiform isidia...………….... P. missouriensis Fig. 1. Rock tripe found in its usual state. Photo by Bob Burrell 6. Soredia coarse, few per soralium...... P. missouriensis The smooth, upper surface is not pitted 6. Soredia fine, many per or covered with warts. However, soralium...... 7 depending on the location, you may encounter this same lichen whose upper 7. Lower surface black; medulla C+ pink surface is coated with a definite, green (gyrophoric acid)…………….P. borreri color, as in Fig. 2. 7. Lower surface pale; medulla C+ red (lecanoric acid)...... ……………...... 8
8. Upper surface ridged; lobe tips pruinose...... ……….... P. perriticulata 8. Upper surface nearly smooth; lobe tips shiny.....……………..... P. caseana - Don Flenniken
WHAT COLOR IS THAT ROCK TRIPE? Perhaps the most frequently-encountered Fig. 2. Rock tripe found under very umbilicate lichen in the Appalachian moist conditions. Photo by Bob Burrell Highlands is Rock Tripe (Umbilicaria mammulata). When one encounters a Inasmuch as this color “phase” is not large cliff face covered with hundreds of mentioned in guide books, it is tempting
8 to call this a new species unless the list of Ohio mosses, updated surface is more carefully considered. nomenclature, nomenclatural synonymy, The upper surface of these green and county distribution maps. After specimens could either be covered with Geisy’s 1957 checklist, much field work external, epiphytic green algae, probably had been achieved (for instance, Allen, Pleurococcus spp. or else due to 1983; Snider and He, 1993). These increased visibility of the photobiont in works resulted in additional Ohio-based the outer part of the lichen during herbarium specimens as well as periods of extreme moisture. If growing published checklists for specific sites in exceptional humidity or places subject that were incorporated into the 1996 to heavy rain, conditions are suitable for Atlas. Finally, the Atlas provided rapid algal growth and this green-coated motivation and passion that fueled the Rock Tripe may be found. modern renaissance in Ohio bryology. - Bob Burrell From just a handful of professional and amateur cryptogamic botanists in 1996, OHIO BRYOLOGY AND THE there are now dozens of individuals MOSS ATLAS: HISTORY AND exploring Ohio ecosystems in search of PROGRESS species new to Ohio or to Ohio counties. The publication of A Catalog and Atlas Cryptogams are now part of Ohio’s rare of the Mosses of Ohio (Snider and plant list (www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap), Andreas, 1996; hereafter referred to as and new and noteworthy collections are the “Atlas”) instigated a new interest in presented at the Ohio Botanical Ohio bryology. Dr. Jerry Snider, Symposium. Professor of Biology, University of Cincinnati, and perhaps the modern Immediate Results after the Publication. “father” of Ohio bryology, provided The maps in the Atlas provided a guidance and encouragement to county-by-county distribution of moss undergraduate and graduate students, species showing that some very common and a group of professional and amateur mosses had been overlooked in Ohio bryologists. A few of the Ohio otherwise well-collected counties, and group, including me, have carried on that some counties had been entirely Jerry’s interest in Ohio bryophytes. Jim overlooked. Toppin and Janet Traub continue to collect in northwest Ohio, and until his Beginning in 1996, Diane Lucas and I death in 2009, Donn Horschler (along began visiting Ohio natural areas, parks, with his collecting companion Roger and private properties in order to “fill in Troutman) made significant collections the blanks.” For example, the Atlas had from central Ohio. no moss records from Jefferson County, so we concentrated on that county and The publication of the Atlas tied much produced a bryophyte flora consisting of information together. It briefly 115 mosses, 17 liverworts, and 1 summarized a history of Ohio moss hornwort (Andreas and Lucas, 2006). investigations, including a list of Diane and others increased the moss important scientific works completed to flora of Erie County from 99 to 156, and date. Many of the non-herbarium based Lorain County from 89 to 161. John county records cited in the Atlas came Atwood and Carl Chuey (2004) from these, especially from Bob Geisy’s collected in counties in the vicinity of (1957) checklist. The Atlas provided a Youngstown State University, and
9 provided a total of 271 new county New Bryological Herbaria. When the records. Atlas was published, the University of Cincinnati was the most active Ohio After the publication of the Atlas, I bryophyte herbarium. In 1998, under the began to track down literature-based curatorship of John Freudenstein, I records that seemed inconsistent. I started a bryophyte herbarium at Kent visited, or requested specimen loans State University (KE). Early entries from, herbaria at Missouri Botanical were from material collected while Garden, University of Michigan, New working at the University of Michigan York Botanical Garden, and Duke Biological Station, and from collections University. An example of a “stray dot” made while surveying Ohio peatlands was Paraleucobryum longifolium, (Andreas and Bryan, 1990). A small but reported as growing in Tuscarawas historically important bryophyte County. This species is typical of collection by Almon Rood, an amateur northern boreal forests or high elevation botanist in northeastern Ohio, that had areas. That herbarium specimen was been stored in shoeboxes on top of located at the Missouri Botanical Garden herbarium cases, was included. and had been annotated as Dicranum scoparium. From 1998 to 2011, the Kent State University Bryophyte Herbarium grew Additional taxa were added to the Ohio to about 12,000 specimens. Specimens moss flora. Some came from field work came from material collected on regional (such as Brachythecium velutinum, forays such as the Andrews and Pohlia bulbifera, and Trematodon Blomquist Forays, exchange programs longicollis). A few new taxa were added with the Missouri Botanical Garden, from Volume 27 of the Flora of North participation in the ABLS moss America North of Mexico (2007). For exchange, acquisition of exsiccatae, and example, Dicranum undulatum had been donations by Diane Lucas, Sam Mazzer, collected by Floyd Bartley in Jackson Rob Curtis and others. County, and the record was located in an out-of-state herbarium. About the same time, Diane Lucas began organizing the bryophyte collection at All new county records, new species, the Cleveland Museum of Natural and updated records (from literature History (CLM). This collection includes citations to actual herbarium specimens) primarily her donations, an historical were recorded by placing new dots on a collection by Edo Claassen, and “master set” of the distribution maps. In collections by Jim Bissell and others. addition, all changes were kept in a There are approximately 3,300 notebook where information for each bryophyte specimens at the Cleveland taxon was recorded (for instance, the Museum of Natural History. herbarium where the specimen was housed, any literature citation, and any Formation of the Ohio Moss and Lichen relevant herbarium label information). Association. With the publication of Diane Lucas eventually converted these The Macrolichens of Ohio (Showman records to a database. and Flenniken, 2004), Ohio had county dot distributions for mosses and lichens. Ray and I discussed the formation of a group that would continue to add
10 information to the crytogamic information relevant either to Ohio or collections of Ohio. At the Ohio the organization’s members, and Botanical Symposium of 2004, an archived issues of OBELISK. announcement was made about an organizational meeting for the Ohio The Combined Crum and Tuckerman Moss and Lichen Association (OMLA) Workshops. In 2006, Ray Showman and at the Gorman Nature Center I organized a joint meeting of the Crum (Lexington, OH) on June 3, 2004. The and Tuckerman Workshops in Ohio. It first annual foray was held October 22- was the 13th meeting of the Tuckerman 24, 2004 at the Edge of Appalachia Workshop, and the 3rd meeting of the Preserve System in Adams County Crum Workshop. This combined (Andreas, Showman and Zloba (2005). workshop brought non-Ohio Since then, OMLA has conducted two professional and amateur cryptogamic forays a year which concentrate on botanists to the state. The end result was under-collected counties. OMLA the re-discovery of three presumed members alternate organizing forays. extirpated mosses (Anomodon viticulosus, Weissia sharpii, and Don Flenniken started the OMLA Thuidium allenii), and three new Ohio newsletter, OBELISK, in 2005. Its name species of macrolichens, Heterodermia is based on the obelisk-style tombstone pseudospeciosa, Parmotrema gardneri, over the grave of William Starling and Physcia pumilior (Andreas, Sullivant, perhaps Ohio’s best known Showman and Lendemer, 2007). bryologist. Don was editor of the newsletter until 2007 when Ray The Ohio State University Input. In Showman joined him as co-editor. Don 2006, Cynthia Dassler became Curator stepped down as co-editor in 2010 and of Cryptogams at the Museum of was replaced by Janet Traub. OBELISK Biological Diversity, The Ohio State contains four regular columns: 1) Left University. She organized the bryophyte Hand Corner (a forum for ideas, collection by repackaging some of the opinions and editorials), 2) Moss historical collections and by updating Musings (featuring bryophytes and nomenclature. Diane Lucas, Jeff Rose written by me), 3) Wanted Alive and I are surveying the bryophyte (featuring rare or extirpated lichens and collection, and have found new county bryophytes and authored by various records through annotating the members), and 4) News and Notes, in specimens. which announcements and small informational items are placed. The Bob Klips, Jeff Rose and Cynthia are newsletter also contains articles by adding new collections to the herbarium, members including reports of that year’s especially from a private natural area in forays. Hocking County, OH. Jeff Rose, and Carole and Bill Schumacher are In 2008, Brian Gara and Bob Klips, with concentrating on collecting specimens technical assistance from Steve McVey, from central and northwestern Ohio. developed a website The Museum of Biological Diversity has (www.ohiomosslichen.org) for OMLA. become the unofficial “headquarters” for This site maintains an on-going history OMLA. Cynthia plans and hosts the of the organization, meeting annual meeting and identification announcements, moss and lichen workshops.
11 The Mapping Process. The database of the Atlas, Jerry Snider included 30 originally created by Diane Lucas is blank maps. I think he meant that as a currently being converted to digital maps challenge to future Ohio bryologists. by a committee of OMLA members. Bill - Barbara K. Andreas Schumacher is creating dot maps using GIS software. Bob Klips is adding Literature Cited scientific and family names using Allen, Bruce H. 1983. Mosses new Photoshop. Jim Toppin and Janet Traub to Ohio. Castanea 47: 56. are creating 88 separate county species Andreas, Barbara K. and Gary R. lists using Microsoft Excel. When this Bryan. 1990. The vegetation of three process is finished there will be available Sphagnum-dominated basin-type bogs in on the OMLA website a clean, printable northeastern Ohio. Ohio J Sci. 90: 54- copy in Portable Document Format 66. (pdf), and a clickable Ohio map that will Andreas, Barbara K. and Diane L. bring up county lists and range maps. Lucas. 2006. The bryophyte flora of All additions to the Ohio moss Jefferson County, OH. Castanea 71: distribution maps are specimen-based. 162-171. In order to maintain its accuracy, a Andreas, Barbara K., Ray E. process similar to that used by the Ohio Showman and Mark H. Zloba. 2005. Rare Plant Council will be adopted. All The formation of the Ohio Moss and changes will be presented in writing to Lichen Association, and a Report of the the OMLA membership at its annual First Fall Foray to the Edge of meeting. The information required will Appalachian Preserve System, Adams be the location of the herbarium Co., OH. Evansia 22 (3): 92-99. specimen. Andreas, Barbara K., Ray E. Showman and James C. Lendemer. Summary. The history of Ohio bryology 2007. The combined Crum/Tuckerman probably began with William Starling Workshop in Ohio. Evansia 24 (3): 55- Sullivant, considered by some to be the 71. “father” of American bryology (Snider Atwood, John J. and Carl F. Chuey. and Andreas, 1996). He began 2004. Additional county records and collecting around 1840 and a copy of his confirmations to the moss flora of Ohio. “Musci alleghanienses” is housed in the Evansia 21(1): 43-48. Rare Book Room at The Museum of Flora of North American Editorial Biological Diversity, The Ohio State Committee. 2007. Flora of North University. Several of Sullivant’s Ohio America North of Mexico. Vol. 27. collections (for example, Scorpidium Bryophyta, part 1. Oxford University scorpioides and Platydictya Press, NY. xxi + 713 p. minutissima) have never been re- Geisy, Robert M. 1957. Studies in collected. These remain a mystery. Ohio bryophytes. Ohio J. Sci. 57 (5): It might seem that, with more than 170 290-312. years of collecting, the Ohio moss Showman, Ray E. and Don G. checklist would be complete. Yet each Flenniken. 2004. The Macrolichens of year something new is added to the Ohio. Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin checklist. In 1996 the Atlas contained New Series Volume 14 Number 3. iv + 385 species and 15 varieties. Today 279 p. there are approximately 420 moss species reported from Ohio. At the end
12 Snider, Jerry.A. and Si He. 1993. Diploschistes muscorum Observations on mosses new or rare to Diploschistes scruposus Ohio. Evansia 10: 68–70. Fuscidea reductum Snider, Jerry A. and Barbara K. Graphis scripta Andreas 1996. A Catalog and Atlas of Hypocenomyce scalaris the Mosses of Ohio. Ohio Biol. Surv. Lecanora dispersa Misc. Cont. No. 2 iv + 105p. Lecidea cyrtidia Micarea pliocarpa THE CRUSTOSE LICHENS OF Pertusaria amara JEFFERSON COUNTY Phlyctis argena The packets were yellow and gathering dust, Porpidia albocaerulescens as they lay in the steel cabinet drawer. Porpidia crustulata Forty plus years they have waited in trust, to become part of the state’s lichen lore. Porpidia subsimplex Pyrenula pseudobufonia Time was when smoke and pollution brewed, Rhizocarpon hochstetteri in the county alongside the river. Rhizocarpon reductum Steel was king and the smoke stacks spewed, Rinodina bischoffii making more steel to deliver. Scoliciosporum umbrinum Time also was when lichens first became known, Thelidium minutulum to a teacher who had just settled there. Trapelia glebulosa So he set out to see how many were prone, Trapeliopsis granulose to live in the haze and smoke, everywhere. Verrucaria calkinsiana
The collections were made from the sites all Verrucaria muralis around, Verrucaria nigrescens everything laid out on the table. - Don Flenniken All that was left for those specimens found, was their name to be applied to the label. PINE TREE LICHENS
But that never happened for reasons obscure, While most corticolous lichens will the collections from time long since past; grow on a number of tree species, there ended up in the Museum’s steel cabinet drawer, are several that are very specific to until rescued and brought out for naming, at last. Ohio’s native pines. This is a niche that is shunned by almost all other lichens. Smoke no longer rolls from the old mill stacks, the air has become clear once more. While white pine is native to Maybe someday someone will go back, northeastern Ohio, this article addresses and compare what is there, with before. only the pitch, shortleaf and Virginia pines of southeastern Ohio. Of these, The names of the lichens collected back then, Virginia pine - often in dense, pure some forty-five years ago; I’ve taken the liberty, as well as my pen, stands, is by far the most common. and listed their names here, below. I have found two lichens to be obligate Acarospora fuscata inhabitants of pine twigs and branches. Amandinea punctata Imshaugia placorodia is a small, light Aspicilia cinerea gray foliose species that almost always Bacidia polychroa has numerous apothecia. I have found Bacidia schweinitzii this lichen exclusively on the twigs and Caloplaca feracissima branches of Virginia pine, although it Caloplaca flavovirescens could also grow on twigs of the other Caloplaca subsoluta pine species. Tuckermanella fendleri is
13 a very small foliose lichen – fingernail fallen twigs and branches of hemlock sized at most. It is a dark, green-brown trees. color when dry, but bright green when wet. It has toothed margins and usually numerous, large apothecia. This also grows exclusively on pine twigs where it is sometimes hard to spot due to its dark color.
Tuckermanopsis americana. Photo by Ray Showman
Imshaugia aleurites also strongly favors pine bark, usually on trunks rather than twigs. However it is also occasionally Imshaugia placorodia and seen on the hard, acidic bark of oaks and Tuckermanella fendleri (dry). Photo by on dead wood. This is a medium sized Ray Showman light gray foliose lichen with numerous fine isidia massing towards the center of the thallus.
Tuckermanella fendleri (wet). Photo by Ray Showman Imshaugia aleurites. Photo by Ray Showman Two others, Tuckermanopsis americana and T. ciliaris are also near obligate pine So don’t ignore the native pine stands in dwellers. I have seen these very rarely your search for lichens. They may yield on the hard, acidic bark of chestnut oak. these otherwise rare lichen species. These nearly identical species are - Ray Showman separated by chemistry. Both are medium sized brown-green foliose lichens. They usually have marginal pycnidia and frequently have marginal apothecia. I have also seen these on the
14 MOSS MUSINGS Early March in southeastern Ohio is still An Ordinary Ohio Road winter. The trees were leafless, the A benefit to moving to southeastern small pools along creeks were covered Ohio is the occasional outing with Ray with ice, the seeps coming from the Showman on which we search the rocks were frozen, and the path through forested hills looking for lichens and the forest was muddy. The trees in this mosses. Ray selects the sites because he part of the Zaleski State Forest were is much more familiar with the region. young and ordinary – beech, maple, elm, For those of you who have been in the and tulip. Christmas fern and last year’s field with Ray, you know that he is part fertile fronds of sensitive fern were mountain goat. He usually takes me to easily identifiable. Even the rock deep, forested ravines with huge outcrops along the path seemed ordinary sandstone rock outcrops and slump – not high or covered with dense blocks. He expects me to walk along populations of mosses and lichens. narrow ledges high above Raccoon Southeastern Ohio is full of similar rock Creek (I opt to crawl on my hands and outcrops, though most are exposed in knees through poison-ivy), or worse yet, deeper shaded ravines. jump from a 10-foot high ledge, or slide down an even higher vertical rock face Though there was no visible change in (did I mention that I have acrophobia?). topography or forest cover, suddenly things became interesting. Growing on Ray is desperate to teach me to identify the surface of the low rock ledges were lichens. He’ll point out a few on a tree large pillows of Sphagnum capillifolium and ask me to examine their characters and S. palustre. Although common Ohio (green-gray or gray-green, rhizines sphagnums, any large population of present or not, isidiate or sorediate, sphagnum in Vinton County is unusual. pseudocyphellae present or absent - On the intermittent seeps that flowed ugh!). Later he’ll quiz me, and I always over the vertical rock surfaces, and the fail (except for Flavoparmelia caperata, tiny moist ledges and cracks within the I’ve mastered that one)! But Ray rocks, grew Sematophyllum demissum, remains optimistic, and he still takes me Plagiothecium cavifolium, on hikes. Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans, Hookeria acutifolia, Leucolejeunea clypeata, and March 3, 2011 promised to be an Frullania asagrayana. A rather large extraordinary day in that we were going slump block at the juncture of a side to walk along a small floodplain within ravine was covered with brownish Stony Hollow. He promised no steep patches of Andreaea rothii, a moss ravines, just an easy stroll. The area is known mostly from historical records in located near the Hope Furnace, just a four Ohio counties. stone’s throw away from the place in Zaleski State Forest where OMLA By now I am rather pleased with the day collected on the 2006 summer foray. – no acrobatic maneuvers required to
15 keep up with Ray, and some very nice nature preserve, an area with already- “finds” for Vinton County. known rarities, or a habitat type that produces the greatest diversity. But to Then Ray spotted a steep 60 degree bank quote George Gershwin, “It ain’t that led to a road above where the car necessarily so.” This otherwise ordinary was parked. He couldn’t resist the forest and the rock outcrop along a dirt climb. While Ray leaped up the road supported a wonderful array of embankment, I used vegetation to pull cryptogams. myself up to arrive on Irish Ridge Road. What is important is to get out and look. It was an ordinary southeastern Ohio dirt Be curious! If it looks different or road. On its east bank was a vertical unusual, it probably is. Diane Lucas sandstone rockface, about 10-15 feet found Anacamptodon splachnoides (a high, that extended for about a fifth of a moss she had been searching for in mile. There are hundreds if not Lorain County) on a tree along a path thousands of similar rockfaces in that she had walked for years, only this southeastern Ohio and I’ve examined time she bent down at the right moment. many of them. About the only difference Ray found Usnea cornuta, a new species was its sunny western exposure created to the state, dislodged from a tree in his because of the road cut. On this back yard by white-breasted nuthatches particular day the seeping water over the (see OBELISK, Vol 7, No. 1). Bob rock face was partially frozen, but new Klips, Jeff Rose, Cynthia Dassler, Brian spring growth was evident. On that very Gara, Bill Schumacher and Ryan ordinary rockface grew Pogonatum Schoeneman found Physcomitrium brachyphyllum, collected only once collenchymatum, new to the state, in a before in Ohio, in 1935. Growing with it newly developing prairie within a was Campylostelium saxicola, a state- mitigation wetland site – hardly a listed moss and only the fourth pristine community. None of these confirmed collection from Ohio. Pinkdot “finds” were expected – we were just out lichen (Dibaeis absoluta), a state-listed with friends exploring the environs of lichen, was common. The rock exposure Ohio. - Barbara K. Andreas above the rock face was luxuriously vegetated with a variety of mosses including, Dicranum spurium, rarely collected through it is reported from 6 2011 SUMMER FORAY Ohio counties, and Polytrichastrum Defiance County in northwest Ohio is pallidisetum, somewhat common in 412 square miles of primarily farmland (80%), with about 12% forest and just northeastern Ohio, but known from only under 4% wetlands. There is little 2 other southern counties. exposed bedrock in the county. Our foray to the county was held Saturday, To find unusual mosses and lichens, one June 11, 2011, and we visited four sites. would think that you need to visit a state In addition, lichens were collected at
16 several area cemeteries. There had not Hyperphyscia confusa is a newly named been much collecting of mosses and species that is also new for the state. lichens in the past: only 15 moss species We found 44 moss species, all of which and 25 lichen species were reported for were new county records. We also the county as of 2007. recorded one liverwort species, Lophocolea heterophylla. – Jim Toppin Our first stop was the Thoreau Wildlife Sanctuary, a few miles northwest of the Lichens recorded on the OMLA city of Defiance. It was established by Summer Foray. N= New for Defiance the Diehl Family Foundation in 1989 County; NO = New for Ohio and is used by Defiance College for Macrolichen Name restoration ecology research and Candelaria concolor education. The sanctuary covers about Cladonia chlorophaea cmplx. 200 acres, of which 100 are wooded. Cladonia coniocraea Cladonia cristatella Cladonia furcata Next we collected at the 78-acre Penney Cladonia polycarpoides Nature Center, which was donated to Cladonia rei Defiance Soil and Water Conservation Flavoparmelia caperata District in 2001 by Nancy Jo Penney and Heterodermia obscurata N is used primarily for education. It is a Hyperphyscia confusa N, NO few miles north of the Thoreau Myelochroa aurulenta N Parmotrema hypotropum N Sanctuary, and includes a sizable woods. Parmelia sulcata Both Thoreau and Penney are primarily Peltigera canina mesic sites with several small wetlands. Phaeophyscia adiastola N Phaeophyscia hirtella N We had lunch at Bronson Park, a 25-acre Phaeophyscia pusilloides N city park on the south side of Defiance Phaeophyscia rubropulchra Physcia adscendens along the Auglaize River. In addition to Physcia americana N the picnic area, it featured nice coverings Physcia millegrana of mosses, even encroaching on the Physcia stellaris parking lot. Physciella chloantha N Physciella melanchra N In the afternoon we collected at a Physconia detersa N privately owned woodland in the Punctelia bolliana N Punctelia missouriensis N southeast part of the county. This had Punctelia rudecta some extensive wet areas. Punctelia subrudecta N We're very grateful to Doug Kane of Xanthomendoza fallax Defiance College, Kip Studer of Xanthomendoza weberi N Defiance Soil & Water, Christy Brown Xanthomendoza ulophyllodes N of Defiance City Parks, and the owners Microlichen Name of the private woodland for allowing us Acarospora fuscata N access to the sites and permission to Arthonia caesia N Buellia stillingiana N collect. Caloplaca feracissima N Dimelaena oreina N A total of 41 lichen species were Lecanora allophana N recorded (see list below), of which 25 Lecanora dispersa N were new to Defiance County. Sarcogyne regularis N Verrucaria nigrescens N
17 Mosses recorded for Defiance County, wanted (Alive) Ohio on the OMLA Summer Foray, Ohio Liverworts June 11, 2011. All moss species are Liverworts and hornworts are groups of new for Defiance County Ohio plants that have been overlooked.
Moss Name The last checklist was published by Amblystegium varium Harvey A. Miller in 1964 (Ohio J. Sci. Anomodon attenuatus 64 (3): 177-184). In his 47 year-old Anomodon rostratus checklist, there are 122 species of Atrichum angustatum liverworts and 3 species of hornworts. Atrichum altecristatum He gave a list of the Ohio counties Aulacomnium palustre where a particular species had been Barbula unguiculata Brachythecium laetum collected. Since that time, liverworts Brachythecium rutabulum and hornworts are reported in various Brachythecium salebrosum bryophyte species lists (such as the Bryum argenteum OMLA foray reports), but no attempt Bryum flaccidum has been made to update the Bryum lisae var. cuspidatum nomenclature or distribution. Calliergonella lindbergii Campylium hispidulum Ceratodon purpureus In Ohio, liverwort and hornworts are not Climacium americanum as common as mosses, both in species Dicranum flagellare numbers and in biomass. Hornworts are Dicranum montanum often overlooked because they appear in Dicranum scoparium the fall, about the time that most field Ditrichum pallidum botanists are “shutting down”. They Entodon seductrix Fissidens taxifolius also do not overwinter as a visible Funaria hygrometrica rosette. Haplocladium microphyllum Helodium blandowii var. helodioides Liverworts should be more common Helodium paludosum than the herbarium records support. It Hypnum pallescens has been proposed that the poor air Leptodictyum riparium quality of Ohio may limit their growth Leskea gracilescens Orthotrichum pumilum on exposed tree trunks and rock Physcomitrium pyriforme outcrops, especially in extreme eastern Plagiomnium ciliare Ohio. Most Ohio forests were Plagiomnium cuspidatum decimated by the late 1920’s, and mature Plagiothecium denticulatum trees and deep forests are rare. Ohio has Platygyrium repens fewer natural wetlands, such as bogs and Polytrichastrum ohioense fens – communities that often support a Polytrichum commune Ptychostomum capillare rich liverwort population. Rhynchostegium serrulatum Thuidium recognitum As one would predict, Hocking County Thuidium delicatulum has the most species of liverworts, with Sematophyllum adnatum 85 of the 122 reported species. The next Schistidium rivulare highest county is Athens County with 60 Liverwort Name species. Only 7 more counties Lophocolea heterophylla (Champaign, Clark, Jackson, Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Lake, and Adams) have 20 or
18 more species. Some liverworts are gray Dust Lichens) and the genus widespread throughout the state. Chrysothrix (the yellow Dust Lichens). Nowellia curvifolia could be found on a decorticated decaying log in every The Dust Lichens are masses of soredia- county. In Miller’s treatment, it is like granules that are easily dislodged reported from 12 counties. and carried away by wind and gravity to new locations. Although found on bark, Diane Lucas, Cynthia Dassler and I are rock substrates seem to be the preferred planning to update the checklist of Ohio habitat for most species. One reason for liverworts and hornworts, and then this is because they do not readily absorb concentrate on the distribution of water from rain, due to the surface individual species. Our goal will be to tension of water being greater than the produce a document similar to the absorption property of the lichen’s Annotated Checklist of the Hornworts, powdery nature. Moisture and minerals Liverworts, and Mosses of West are absorbed from the dampness of the Virginia, written by Susan Studlar, substrate surface, especially during Steven Stephenson, and Paul Harmon, evening and morning dew accumulation and published in 2002 by the Wildlife or from a naturally moist habitat. Resources Section, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. In addition to Lepraria and Chrysothrix, the genus Psilolechia is included here We would appreciate receiving any because of its similar nature, appearance, identified or unidentified specimens, and habitat and can easily be mistaken along with the appropriate label for Chrysothrix information. Please keep on the lookout for Ohio hornworts and liverworts. At the present time there are 6 species of – Barbara K. Andreas Lepraria, 2 species of Chrysothrix, and Psilolechia lucida known from Ohio. THE DUST LICHENS Previous names for Ohio species are There is one particular group of crustose unreliable and should not be considered lichens commonly called Dust Lichens. accurate. Recent work by Lendemer, In the past, the Dust Lichens have gone Harris, and Ladd has helped to clarify by various genus names that included Ohio’s species, as well as those in Amphiloma, Crocynia, Leproloma, and eastern US. Lepraria; and have also included the yellow species of the genus Chrysothrix. Our Lepraria species may be separated Until recently this whole group of into 2 groups, based upon morphological species was largely ignored because they characteristics. The first group is those do not produce apothecia or fungal that are essentially fluffy, with a spores. This lack of apothecia places relatively thick thallus and an apparent them in the Fungi imperfecti and for this medulla. The second group is those that reason they are also called imperfect appear granular, have a thinner thallus, lichens. Using modern technology to and lack a medulla. Since ascocarps are understand their chemical makeup, unknown, chemistry plays an important James Lendemer of the New York part in their identification. Spot tests (K, Botanical Garden, and others have C, KC, and P) are useful, but presented evidence of several new chromatography is needed for complete species in both the genus Lepraria (the accuracy.
19 The following, along with the Lepraria incana is usually found on the accompanying photographs (all by Don bark of trees, rarely on rocks. It tends to Flenniken) are intended to be helpful in be greenish or bluish in color and is less recognizing Ohio’s Dust Lichens. likely to form distinct lobes. Chemically, it is K-, C-, KC-, and P-, but is UV+ Lepraria lobificans may be our most white common species and has often been referred to as Lepraria membranacea , or by several other names that include Amphiloma lanuginosum and Leproloma membranaceum. This species is often seen in mossy habitats such as moist rock walls and bridge abutments. The thallus usually forms distinct patches with irregular, lobed margins. The lobes remain flat, with a underlying layer of hyphae (medulla). It will test P+ orange.
Lepraria caesioalba is granular in texture, the granules rather hard with a toughened outer layer, but not a true cortex. It tests P+ red and could easily be mistaken for Lepraria caesiella that tests P+ yellow or P-. Both are found growing on rocks.
Lepraria normandinoides is similar to the above, but its lobes are upturned, giving a slightly cup-shaped lobe margin. It also has a dark layer of hyphae below that help to anchor it to the substrate. It also tests P+ orange and is found on rocks.
Lepraria neglecta is a similar granular species, with hard granules. It often forms consecutive growth rings and appears zoned with light and dark bands. When in this form it is rather easily identified. However, it may be found as patches of granules without any appearance of zonation. In circumstances as this, one must test with
20 KC to be certain. It will test K-, C-, P-, and KC+ red. It seems to be a fairly common species on rocks.
Chrysothrix insulizans is a newly described species that typically occurs on sandstone, often in overhanging situations where some protection is Lepraria caesiella, as mentioned above, afforded. It tends to form small groups is similar to Lepraria caesioalba but of granules and becomes scattered over differs in chemistry, testing P+ light wide areas of the substrate. It will test yellow or P-. It tends to have a bluish K+ reddish, KC+ reddish (slow in cast when observed in the natural forming the reddish color) and UV-. So habitat. far, it is known only from Jackson County in Ohio (from the Tuckerman Workshop, 2006).
Chrysothrix xanthina is a bright yellow species made up of tiny granules that are loosely attached to the substrate. It may be found on rocks or on the bark of trees. Psilolechia lucida is included here This was previously known as although it has no relation to the above Chrysothrix candelaria. All spot tests species. It is similar only in the leprose are negative and it is also UV-. It may granules that make it up. It usually easily be confused with sterile produced apothecia which can often be Psilolechia lucida, but that species is found by close examination of the more greenish yellow and is bright thallus. All spot tests are negative, but it orange under ultraviolet radiation. is UV+ orange and tends to be yellowish-green as compared to the brighter yellow of Chrysothrix spp. It is
21 found in much the same rock habitats as Lawrence Counties (July, 2009, also by the above species. - Don Flenniken Barb Andreas). It typically grows on rock, bark, or at the base of trees in rather dry to moist woods. (Crum and Anderson, 1981). All but one of the Ohio records are from tree bases; the Erie County substrate is sandstone boulders.
Fabronia ciliaris. In April 2010, while investigating bryoflora at the mouth of a slate ravine in extreme southern Delaware County, Jeff Rose collected Fabronia ciliaris (Fabroniaceae) from the bark of a boxelder maple growing along the Olentangy River. This is only the 5th county specimen record for Ohio NEW AND UNUSUAL MOSSES (in addition to 2 literature-only records) 2009-2011 of a small but strikingly beautiful This new OBELISK feature is a pleurocarp that grows in soft mats and summary of rare moss findings based on has amazing coarsely toothed leaves. reports sent in by members who Also, the especially uncommon variety responded to a request for information F. ciliaris var. polycarpa was collected about recent records for species known during the October, 2010 OMLA fall from six or fewer counties. Moss foray to Muskingum County. distribution data are from the 2011 update (described elsewhere in this Physcomitrella patens. In October, issue) of the Ohio Biological Survey 2010, while developing a bryophyte publication "A Catalogue and Atlas of survey protocol to be used in wetland the Mosses of Ohio," by Jerry Snider vegetation assessment at Three Creeks and Barbara K. Andreas (1996). They Metro Park in Franklin County, Cynthia are presented in chronological order. Dassler and Bill Schumacher discovered a terrific new moss for Ohio, Brachythecium velutinum. Shortly Physcomitrella patens (Funariaceae). after being discovered as a new species This very small acrocarp (although with for Ohio by Barb Andreas during the stems forking, sometimes repeatedly), “scouting trip” for the 2009 OMLA fall the only member of its genus, is widely foray to Darke County, there have been distributed, although uncommon, in several additional, quite widely eastern North America. Also occurring separated, stations for our smallest in Europe and Asia, Physcomitrella is member of a difficult genus: perhaps the world’s best known moss Brachythecium velutinum because it has become a model species (Brachytheciaceae). This moss is now for the study of bryophyte evolution and known from far-western Darke, far- developmental genetics. Accordingly, northern Erie (collected by Diane Lucas this is the first moss to have had its in September 2009), north-central genome completely sequenced! Morrow (from the OMLA foray this Physcomitrella is rather similar to October) and extreme southern another moss found on wet soil in open
22 areas, its quite common close relative woods at Tar Hollow State Park in Ross Aphanorrhegma serratum, from which County: Platydictya subtilis Physcomitrella is distinguished by (Amblystegiaceae). This is our sole having an inoperculate, irregularly corticolous member of an otherwise rupturing capsule. saxicolous genus, and one which may be more common than Atlas records Dichelyma capillaceum. A semi- indicate, likely under-collected due to its aquatic pleurocarp with lanceolate, small size and resemblance to (yawn) falcate-secund leaves that Crum and Amblystegium. This is the 3rd county Anderson (1981) cautions could be specimen record (4 others are literature- overlooked owing to a resemblance to only). It was also collected during the several other, unrelated, moss genera 2010 OMLA foray in Muskingum such as Dreplanocladus or Dicranum, County. Dichelema capillaceum (Fontinalaceae) was known previously from only two Cryphaea glomerata. As part of the Ohio counties (one specimen record). Ohio Biological Survey-sponsored Deep This moss was collected by Barb Woods All-Taxa Biotic Inventory, a trio Andreas at a swamp in Gallia County of botanists consisting of Cynthia that she visited with Rick Gardner and Dassler, Bob Klips, and Jeff Rose have Ray Showman in October, 2010, after made many trips individually or together Rick gave her a small sample he picked to this 282 acre parcel in Hocking up on a previous trip there. She noted County. Although Hocking is Ohio’s that Dichelema resembles Leptodictyum floristically most well-known county, riparium even more than it does the this diverse site nonetheless harbors genera mentioned by Crum and some mosses heretofore unseen in Anderson. Hocking that are also rare state-wide. During the August, 2011 iteration of the Campylostelium saxicola. A small annual Deep Woods “Bio-blitz” Bob gregarious acrocarp that is rare and collected Cryphaea glomerata scattered across its range in eastern (Cryphaeaceae) from a low branch of a North America and parts of Europe and very lichen- and moss-encrusted redbud eastern Asia, Campylostelium saxicola tree in an open lawn area. This is a (Ptychomitriaceae) grows primarily on creeping pleurocarp with the general acidic rock in shaded gorges and ravines. aspect of some close relatives, including Known previously from three southern both Forsstroemia and Leucodon. The Ohio county specimen records and two combination of tightly imbricate (when literature-only ones, Barb Andreas dry) leaves and perichaetial leaves that collected this from a sandstone ledge in are broad and acuminate serve as a Gallia County ravine during the above- distinguishing features. Hardwood bark mentioned October, 2010 trip. This is a typical substrate for the species, upgraded Gallia from a literature-only to which is said to be common in the a specimen record. The species was also southeast (Crum and Anderson, 1981). collected in Crawford County during the Prior to this, it had been recorded from 2011 OMLA fall foray. four Ohio counties, two of which are specimen records. Platydictya subtilis. In June, 2011, Bill Schumacher plucked an extremely small Didymodon rigidulus. Deep Woods is pleurocarp off a tree trunk crevice in the the site of another recently collected
23 rarity, this from a slab of shale talus that counties (one of them a specimen rests in the shaded creek that traverses record). Ephemerum species are the property. It was collected by Bob probably under-represented in the Atlas Klips during a mid-September follow-up because crawling around in wet fields trip to make sense of a confusing mix of during the colder months of the year mosses seen on the shale bluff there isn’t everybody’s idea of fun. (Go during the August Bio-blitz. This is figure!). Didymodon rigidulus (Pottiaceae): a tufted acrocarp that, like many members Physcomitrium collenchymatum. of its family, has a fidelity to calcareous Continuing with the October Sunday substrates. This moss is discouragingly ephemeral trip, the bryological high similar to a handful of other mid-sized, point of this very fruitful day (and narrow-leaved, papillose-celled perhaps for the year) was a little moss Pottiaceae, and would have probably that first caught Jeff Rose’s eye: a tufted remained in the “unidentified” (a.k.a. acrocarp with broad leaves and nearly “step on it!”) category were it not for the globose capsules well-elevated by their presence of axillary gemmae, abundantly setae. This moss had the aspect of produced. This is the 3rd specimen Tortula (formerly Pottia) truncata, an county record for this moss (two others uncommon fall ephemeral, which we all are literature-only). believed it to be at the time. Subsequent examination immediately revealed two Ephemerum cohaerans. During the last sporophyte traits ruling out Tortula: (1) a Sunday afternoon in October, 2011, Bill mitrate, not cucullate, calyptra, and; (2) Schumacher organized an impromptu a short-beaked, not rostrate, operculum. field trip to Battelle Darby Metro Park in This put it into the Funariaceae, where Franklin County attended by several its small size and the peculiarly shallow, OMLA members. The theme of the trip wide-mouthed dried capsules “quite was a search for ephemeral mosses at a unlike the capsule of any other North newly-established wetland/prairie American species” (Crum and Anderson, ecological mitigation project. Mosses are 1981) revealed this to be Physcomitrium strikingly abundant here, forming a crust collenchymatum --the first collection over much of the ground, upon which from Ohio! little spheres of a presumably nitrogen- fixing cyanobacterium are also According to Crum and Anderson abundant. The principal ephemerals and (1981), P. collenchymatum is “An ruderals at the site are Barbula ephemeral of weedy situations, thriving unguiculata, Aphanorrhegma serratum, in disturbed habitats, on mud or damp Physcomitrium pyriforme (tentatively soil and especially on silt, on the banks identified using gametophytes only), and of ditches, creeks, rivers, or ponds, and several Bryum species. Dark patches of also on bare soil in old fields (corn, protenema from which arise tiny sessile cotton, and sugarcane fields, perhaps Ephemerum plants were common across generally in bottomlands); spores the landscape. Subsequent examination maturing in fall to spring. Rare and of the miniscule mosses revealed costate, scattered over much of eastern North notably broad leaves, and other features America.” Yippee! consistent with Ephemerum cohaerans (Ephemeraceae), which had heretofore been reported from only two other Ohio
24 Schumacher returned in early November to explore an adjacent ravine, where he gathered a papillose acrocarp from just below a seep. The groundwater was loaded with iron precipitating out as it hit the soil, which was thus cemented with the precipitated iron. These are indicators of high pH, calcareous conditions appropriate for Didymodon ferrugineus (Didymodon fallax var. reflexa) (Pottiaceae), as the moss was Physcomitrium collenchymatum “studio” determined to be by virtue of strikingly photo by Bob Klips, taken October 31, recurved (when wet) leaves and a costa 2011 (one day after its collection from covered on the upper surface by elongate Battelle Darby Metro Park, Franklin cells. This is just the second specimen County, Ohio). county record for this moss; the other is
from Adams. One record is literature- Seligeria recurvata. The second, non- only. - Bob Klips ephemeral, half of the Battelle Darby
trip was an examination of a wooded Reference: Crum, H.A. and L. E. ravine, one of several that run Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern perpendicular to, and intermittently drain North America. Columbia University into, Little Darby Creek. Scattered about Press. New York, NY. the low ground of the ravine near the creek are some medium-sized rocks, a few of which had gregarious but not OMLA FALL FORAY –2011 tufted colonies of a tiny few-leaved acrocarp, many bearing immature “spear-stage” sporophytes. There were also a few mature sporophytes, perhaps persistent from the previous year, with distinctive subcylindric capsules. The seta were remarkably curved (“cygneous”), so we called it “horse- hair” moss as Jeff scraped several of the wee plants into an envelope. “Horse- hair” turned out to be Ohio’s 2nd county OMLA received a warm welcome! Photo record for Seligeria recurvata by Bob Klips (Seligeriaceae). (The other, also a specimen, is from Adams.) Crum and This year’s fall foray was held in Anderson (1981) explain this moss is Crawford and Morrow Counties on Saturday October 1st and Sunday found “on moist shaded cliffs and nd boulders, favoring sandstone rather than October 2 . All of Saturday was held in calcareous substrates.” Crawford County and the planning for this day was facilitated by the very Didymodon ferrugineus. Impressed by active participation of the Crawford Park the diversity seen in the Battelle Darby District, particularly its Director, Bill ravine during the ephemerals trip, Bill Fisher. Participants met in the morning in the beautiful nature center at Lowe-
25 Volk Park where Mr. Fisher gave a short Brachythecium laetum X X presentation on the natural history of the Brachythecium oedipodium X* county and an overview of the park Brachythecium rivulare X Brachythecium rutabulum X system and its services (accompanied by Brachythecium salebrosum X* doughnuts and coffee). Brachythecium velutinum X* Bryhnia graminicolor X Immediately following the presentation, Bryoandersonia illecebra X X the group went a short distance down the Bryum argenteum X* road to the property of Craig Smith, Callicladium haldanianum X whose property is largely an old Campylostelium saxicola** X* sandstone quarry. There were abundant Climacium americanum X X Climacium kindbergii X bryophytes there, including the state- Ctenidium molluscum X* listed Plagiothecium laetibricola and Cyrto-hypnum pygmaeum X* Campylostelium saxicola. For lunch, the Dicranella heteromalla X* group returned to Lowe-Volk where Dicranum montanum X X others collected for a while before Dicranum scoparium X* joining the rest of the group who had Dicranum viride X X either gone to Heckert Woods or Sears Entodon seductrix X Ephemerum crassinervium X* X* Woods State Nature preserve, both Eurynchium hians X swamp forests with vernal pools. A Eurynchium pulchellum X small group of people also went to Fissidens exilis X* X* Daughmer Bur Oak Savannah, one of Fissidens minutulus X* the few remnants of the Sandusky Plains Fissidens taxifolius X X prairies. As is typical for our fall forays, Funaria hygrometrica X* the group returned to the hotel for dinner Gymnostomum aeruginosum X* Haplocladium microphyllum X and an identification session. Sunday Haplohymenium triste X* morning was devoted to Morrow County Hedwigia ciliata X* X where the group explored Mount Gilead Hygroamblystegium tenax X State Park finding cryptogams in both Hypnum curvifolium X X the wet areas and dry upland Hypnum pallescens X surrounding a man-made lake. Isopterygium tenerum X* Leptodictyum riparium X* Leskea gracilescens X X Bryophytes recorded on the 2011 Fall Leucobryum glaucum X* X Foray in Crawford (C) and Morrow Mnium marginatum X* (M) Counties. *Indicates new for that Orthotrichum ohioense X* county. **State listed species. Orthotrichum stellatum X Plagiomnium cuspidatum X Mosses C M Plagiothecium cavifolium X Amblystegium serpens var. Plagiothecium latebricola** X* juratzkanum X* Platygyrium repens X Amblystegium varium X Pogonatum pensilvanicum X* Anomodon attenuatus X X Pohlia nutans X* Anomodon minor X* X* Polytrichastrum ohioense X X Anomodon rostratus X X Pylasiadelpha tenuirostris X* Aphanorrhegma serratum X* Rhizomnium punctatum X X* Atrichum altecristatum X* X Rhynchostegium serrulatum X X Atrichum angustatum X Sematophyllum demissum X* Atrichum crispulum X Schistidium rivulare X Aulacomnium heterostichum X* Taxiphyllum depanatum X* Barbula unguiculata X X Taxiphyllum taxirameum X* X
26 Tetraphis pellucida X* Parmotrema hypotropum X* X* Thuidium delicatulum X X Peltigera canina X* Ulota crispa X* Phaeophyscia adiastola X* Liverworts Phaeophyscia hirtella X* X Cephaloziella rubella X* Phaeophyscia pusilloides X* Cololejeunea biddlecomiae X* Phaeophyscia rubropulchra X* X Conocephalum conicum X* Physcia adscendens X Frullania eboracensis X* X* Physcia millegrana X X Frullania inflata X* Physcia phaea X* X* Geocalyx graveolens X* Physcia stellaris X X Lophocolea heterophylla X* Physciella chloantha X* Nowellia curvifolia X* X* Physciella melanchra X* Porella platyphylla X* Physconia detersa X X Radula complanata X* Physconi aenteroxantha X* X* Plagiochila porelloides X* X* Punctelia bolliana X Hornworts Punctelia missouriensis X X* Notothylas orbicularis X* Punctelia rudecta X X Total Species 67 39 Punctelia subrudecta X* X New for County 39 16 Pyxine sorediata X * = county record Rimelia reticulata X* ** = state listed Xanthomendoza weberi X* X* Total Species 30 26 Lichens were recorded from the Smith New for County 18 11 Property, Lowe-Volk Park and Sears Woods Nature Preserve in Crawford - Jeff Rose and Bob Klips County (10/1/11); and the Mount Gilead State Park in Morrow County (10/2/11). Additional records were also obtained from cemeteries in both counties. A LOWER PLANTS total of 30 species with 18 new county Moss and lichen – lower plants, records were reported from Crawford the higher plant people say; County with 26 species and 11 new But if you give them half a chance, records from Morrow County. All of the they’ll really make your day. species found are fairly common in Ohio. Minature beauty – ecology too, enough for your interest forever; You’ll need a scope and some chemicals Lichen Name C M few, Anaptychia palmulata X* Candelaria concolor X X to unlock their secrets most clever. Canoparmelia crozalsiana X* X* Cladonia cylindrica X* So get out there – look around, Cladonia macilenta X* learn from the lichen and moss; Cladonia polycarpoides X* Treasure the mysteries of lower plants Flavoparmelia caperata X X found, Flavopunctelia flaventior X X and you’ll never be at a loss. Flavopunctelia soredica X X Hyperphyscia adglutinata X* X* Lecanora dispersa X* - Ray Showman Lecanor ahybocarpa X* Leptogium cyanescens X* Myelochroa aurulenta X X Parmelia sulcata X X
27 NEWS & NOTES COLLECTING LICHENS IN WEST VIRGINIA We at the Ohio Moss and Lichen When I was doing the collecting for The Association are saddened by the passing Macrolichens in West Virginia I found of Barbara Schomer. Barbara and her that cemeteries and churchyards were husband, Bruce Randall, participated in pretty good places for quick results. the 2008 Fall Foray to Erie County, then There were no “No Trespassing” signs joined OMLA in 2009. Barbara lived in and usually no one to bother you; Pittsburgh. She volunteered in especially if you avoided Sunday Everglades National Park and a lichen, mornings around 10:00. I learned that Calopadia schomerae (Pilocarpaceae) one spring morning in the southern part was named for her. of the state.
I had sort of lost track of time until this * * * * * * whole bunch of people come upon me OMLA welcomes 8 new members who and wanted me to come in for morning joined in 2011. They are Dylan Herd services. There wasn’t much else I could (Lancaster, OH, student membership), do, so I set down in one of those wooden Jack Berninger (Cleves, OH), Eric pews. The singing could have used some Boyda (Ironton, OH), Conor Flynn help but the preacher did a good job with (Columbus, OH, student membership), his message, don’t you know. And after Diane Holsinger, Timberville, VA, he was finished, he invited anyone with Mike Kangas (University Heights, OH), a problem to come up to the altar. He Aurora Roemmich (Ironton, OH), Willa did. But no one came. They didn’t. Well, Schrlau (Chagrin Falls, OH), and like I said, he had a pretty good sermon, Geoffrey Yost (North Canton, OH, so I decided the right thing to do was go student membership). up to the altar as he asked. I did. And I
said, “Maybe you can help me with my The total membership for OMLA is now hearing”. 55!
About that time everyone else in the * * * * * * church came up to the altar and they did what they called “The Laying of the Hands”. They did. They did. And what they did was, they laid their hands on me. Pretty soon this good preacher put his fingers in my ears and said a few words that ended with, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord”. Then he turned to me and said, “How’s your hearing now”?
And I said, “Well, I don’t know, it’s not Photo by Bob Burrell until next week”. - Don Flenniken Leopard slugs, like the one pictured here, sometimes graze on lichens. The Editors wish to thank all of our contributors for making this issue the biggest and best yet!
28 Participants of the Summer Foray, June 11, 2011. (Left to right) Bob Klips, Jim Toppin, Carole Schumacher, Cynthia Dassler, Janet Traub, Ray Showman, Jeff Rose, Logan Findley, Don Flenniken, Naomi Mathew. Both photos by Bob Klips
Participants of the Fall Foray, October 1, 2011. (Left to right) Back row: Jeff Rose, Bill Schumacher, Cynthia Dassler, Bob Burrell, Ray Showman, Bill Fisher. Second row: Don Flenniken, Carole Schumacher, Diane Lucas, Dave Smith, Ed Fuchs, Jim Toppin, Bob Klips. Front row: Naomi Mathew, Barb Andreas, Janet Traub. 29