Ohio Bryology et Lichenology, Identification, Species, Knowledge Newsletter of the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association. Volume 15 No. 1. 2018. Ray Showman and Robert Klips, Editors [email protected], [email protected] _____________________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Note This issue of OBELISK is the sheer size of collections. Like the Ark of dedicated to our student members, now the Covenant, a specimen can get lost in the totaling 15. These young people have aggregate packet boxes. shown a laudable curiosity and will to learn In cryptogams as well as the wider world of about bryophytes and lichens. This year’s biology, specimen collections have been Left Hand Corner is authored by Jonathan largely forgotten. Modern biological science Kubesch, a graduate student at The emphasizes tissue cultures and project- University of Tennessee - Knoxville, who specific living specimens over the careful worked with Bob Klips as an undergrad at examination of aged paper packets and OSU. The Flenniken Award goes for the archaic cursive labels. The genomics era second time to Tomás J. Curtis, a student at with various molecular markers and colorful Kent State. Shaun Pogacnik, a student at dyes briefly provided hopes that the 19th and Hocking College, reports on finding two 20th century specimens might provide clues species thought to be extirpated in Ohio. to modern changes in global ecology. Congratulations to all of our student Unfortunately, most genomics work still members! remains focused on agricultural weeds, LEFT HAND CORNER crops, or novelties; for the most part lichens and bryophytes remain fairly marginalized. THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTION AND CURATION Luckily, the continuing efforts of the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association might yet The fire in Brazil’s National Museum this counter these concerns over the fate of past year inspired some reflection on the cryptogram specimens. Attention to existing nature of collection and curation. As many collections and active curation maintain the of the priceless antiquities and biological scientific utility of old packets. Modern collections are now irreparably damaged, media tools increase public awareness of attention must now turn to preventing these historical resources. Imaging work at similar losses of valuable knowledge. Ohio State’s herbarium presently being Especially in the case of cryptogams, carried with the help of OMLA members specimen collections can be so few and far Bob Klips, Megan Osika, and others, between that a loss of one specimen might ensures that specimens will be accessible be the loss of an entire species from and traceable as time continues on. This scientific documentation. Scientific imaging is available to the wider public, knowledge on locality, substrate, and collector can be lost just as easily through 1 allowing anyone to retrieve a packet from ongoing study of Ohio lichens by the author. anywhere with decent internet connection. Here each macrolichen species new for the state of Ohio will be discussed individually. The author contributed to the imaging work These new species include Heppia underway at Ohio State, working through adglutinata, Hypotrachyna revoluta, several sections of the legendary Don Melanelixia glabratula, Multiclavula Flenniken’s lichen collection. In addition to corynoides, Tuckermanopsis sepincola, the value of distributions and physical Usnea glabrata and Usnea subgracilis. material to analyze, these packets provide glimpses into the minds of collectors and Materials and Methods curators. Though an 1871 Slovenian lichen may not directly influence the state of Lichens were found and collected by the Ohio’s lichen record, the history of author at various sites throughout Ohio. collections and acquisitions demonstrates Specimens cited below, as well as all the the morphological structures that informed specimens related to this broader study, have the modern concept of lichens, as well as the been deposited at the Kent State University nature of research programs. Herbarium (KE). They were examined using both a Stereomaster dissecting microscope In the end, as Ray Showman pointed out in and a Nikon Asphaphot-2 YS2 compound an earlier Obelisk article, “The Value of microscope. Standard spot tests were Amateurs,” collections need to keep being performed as well as thin-layer made. If not for the sake of forays, chromatography to study the metabolic specimens should be regularly collected to biproducts that lichens often produce. back up the limited number of bryophytes Lichens were identified using Lendemer, J., and lichens globally curated. Most species Harris, R., and Tripp, E. (2013), Hinds, J. can handle to have two or three packets of and Hinds, P. (2007), and Brodo, I. (2016). identical material kept in several collections across the state and country. Hopefully the NEW MACROLICHENS FOR OHIO active group of collectors and curators Heppia adglutinata (Krempelh.) A. within this association may continue to Massal. grow. - Jonathan Kubesch Heppia adglutinata is a small terricolous cyanolichen in the family Heppiaceae. It has REPORT OF NEW MACROLICHENS an olive to brown squamulose to peltate FOR THE STATE OF OHIO thallus and large red-brown immersed apothecia that generally develop singly in Tomás J. Curtis the center of a squamule. Its distribution [email protected] includes most of the United States, from Introduction around the Great lakes and Northeastern United States to the Southwest. Despite During the late months of 2017 through having a broad range, it appears to be 2018 many noteworthy lichen records were infrequent and rarely collected. In February found in Ohio. Macrolichens continued to be of 2018, a population of Heppia adglutinata collected and identified as part of an was located by the author at Castalia Quarry 2 Metroparks in Erie County, Ohio. It was a Simco Wildlife Area. These Ohio locations robust but isolated population growing on are quite disjunct from other known records. calcareous soil in the open quarry and associated with Placidium squamulosum. Hypotrachyna revoluta. Photo by Tomás Curtis Specimens examined - U.S.A. OHIO. Heppia adglutinata. Photo by Tomás Curtis ASHLAND CO.: near Mohican Memorial State Forest, next to the Pleasant Hill Lake Specimen examined - U.S.A. OHIO. ERIE dam along County Road 3006, 11 January CO.: Castalia Quarry Metro Park, in quarry, 2018, on branch of Acer rubrum, Tomás J. 17 February 2018, on exposed calcareous Curtis (KE). U.S.A. OHIO. COSHOCTON soil, Tomás J. Curtis (KE). CO.: Simco Wildlife Area, near Township Road 280, 9 February 2018, on bark of Hypotrachyna revoluta (Flörke) Hale Alnus glutinosa. Tomás J. Curtis (KE). Hypotrachyna revoluta is a medium-sized Melanelixia glabratula (Lamy) Sandler foliose lichen with loosely adnate lobes that Berlin & Arup become revolute and produce farinose soredia. The thallus is gray to green-gray Melanelixia glabratula is an olive-brown to and smooth with a faintly maculate to reddish-brown medium-sized foliose lichen emaculate surface and a black undersurface. with an adnate, pseudocyphellate thallus that In the Eastern United States, this species is produces relatively long, branched isidia. It infrequent in the extreme northeast, around is common throughout the Appalachians and Lake Superior, and throughout the Southern the Pacific Northwest but also occurs and Central Appalachians. In January of scattered around the Great Lakes. In June of 2018, a single thallus of Hypotrachyna 2018, it was located by the author during the revoluta was located by the author near 2018 OMLA Summer Foray in Wayne Mohican Memorial State Forest in Ashland County, Ohio near Kister Fen. It was found County, Ohio, near the dam of Pleasant Hill growing on an old sun-exposed wooden Lake. It was growing on a branch of Acer fence in a yard and associated with other rubrum in a developed area near a parking uncommon and often lignicolous species lot. Almost a month later, a second thallus such as Calicium tigillare and Caloplaca was found in an adjacent county at the microphyllina. 3 Melanelixia glabratula. Photo by Tomás Multiclavula corynoides. Photo by Tomás Curtis Curtis Specimen examined - U.S.A. OHIO. Specimen examined – U.S.A. OHIO. WAYNE CO.: in yard just east of PORTAGE CO. Shaw Woods (Portage Park intersection between Kister Rd. and Willow District property), in the power line right-of- Rd., close to Kister Fen, 9 June 2018, on a way, 7 June 2018, on exposed acidic soil wooden fence rail, Tomás J. Curtis (KE). with a superficial algal film, Tomás J. Curtis (KE). Multiclavula corynoides (Peck) R. Petersen Tuckermanopsis sepincola (Ehrh.) Hale Multiclavula corynoides is one of a small Tuckermanopsis sepincola is a small olive- number of lichenized basidiomycete fungi brown to ashy-brown foliose lichen with that derive nutrients from green algae that raised lobes that often produce apothecia on have been incorporated into their tissue. The the tip of the upper surface. The apothecia colonies grow on algal films over moist often become so abundant that the thallus is exposed soil, and the fruiting structures are obscured beneath them. It is common north erect, orange to pale orange-buff clubs that of the Great Lakes and through the are often scattered within the algal film. It is Appalachians on branches and twigs of represented by only two collections in the acidic shrubs and trees in open areas. In Eastern United States and is probably rare August of 2017, a single thallus of throughout its range, though collection bias Tuckermanopsis sepincola was located at may contribute towards this lack of Towner’s Woods in Portage County, Ohio. representation. In June of 2018, It was growing on a twig of Chamaedaphne Multiclavula corynoides was found by the calyculata in a small Chamaedaphne bog author at Shaw Woods in Portage County, surrounded by forest. Ohio. It was growing in a large open power- line right-of-way over moist algae-covered Specimen examined – U.S.A. OHIO. soil and associated with species of PORTAGE CO. Towner’s Woods (Portage Dichanthelium, Danthonia, Rubus, and Park District Property), 20 August 2017, on moss.