Hypotrachyna Lichen

Hypotrachyna gondylophora

Parmelia gondylophora Hale, 1967:420. [Type collection: Clingmans Dome, Swain County, North Carolina, Hale 33570 (US, holotype; DUKE, FH, UPS, isotypes).]

Thallus loosely attached, whitish mineral gray, 8–15 cm broad; upper surface plane, smooth, sometimes faintly white-maculate, sorediate toward the tips, the soralia capitate; lower surface densely rhizinate, the rhizines densely dichotomously branched. Apothecia not seen.

CHEMISTRY.—Cortex K+ yellow, medulla K−, C−, P+ orange-red (atranorin, fumarprotocetraric acid, and succinprotocetraric acid along with rhodophyscin (under soralia) if pigment present).

DISTRIBUTION.—Southeastern United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Africa.

HABITAT.—On trees (hardwoods and conifers), rarely on rocks, in cloud forests at 1000–2200 m elevation.