SMITHSONIAN COKTRIBUTIONS TO 

BOTANY 

NUMBER 4 

Mason E. Hale, Jr. Morden-Smithsonian .. Expedition to Dominica: 

The Lichens 

(Par meliaceae) 

SMITHSOXIAN INSTITUTION PRESS 

CITY OF WASHINGTON 

'971 
ABSTRACT 

Hale, Mason E., Jr. Morden-Smithsonian Expedition to Dominica : The Lichens 

(Parmeliaceae) . Smitlzsonian Contributions to Botany, number 4, 25 pages, 1971.- 

A revision is made of the lichen family Parmeliaceae in Dominica, based on previous 

published records by Elliott and on collections by the author. Twenty-two species are 

now known for Parmelia, the only genus in this family on the island. A new species, 

Parmelia mordenii, is described from rock habitats in the dry scrub woodland. 

Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded 

in the Institution’s annual report, Smithsonian Year. 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON : 1911 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, US. Government Printing OWce 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 45 cents (paper cover) 
Mason E. Hale, 3r. 

Introduction 

Dominica lies in the Windward Lesser Antilles, approximately midway between Trinidad to the south 

and Antigua to the north. It is the most mountainous 

island in this chain and has been subject to the least 

disturbance by man. There are extensive areas of 

virgin forest, and although commercial logging has 

begun in earnest in the past five years, it will hopefully remain limited in scope because of the rugged 

terrain. 

The first lichen collector on Dominica was W. R. 

Elliott. He made remarkably complete collections in 

1891-1892 and 1896 on behalf of the West India 

Natural History Exploration Committee. The specimens were sent to the Finnish lichenologist E. A. 

Vainio, the authority on tropical lichens at that time. 

Vainio's first report (1896) covered Elliott's collections numbered below 1,000 from Dominica and his 

equally large collections from nearby St. Vincent. A 

second report (1915) dealt mainly with specimens 

collected by Duss from Guadeloupe and Martinique 

and by Raunkiaer and Boergesen from the Virgin 

Islands but included the later series (1896) by Elliott 

from Dominica numbered between 1,000 and 1,500. 

Vainio retained duplicates of the first series and returned the originals to the British Museum, but he 

kept most of the second series from 1896. Thus all of 

these historically important collections are available 

either in London (BM) or Turku (TUR) . Alexander Evans made a few collections in the 

Mason E. Hale, Jr., Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithronian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560. 

Morden-Smithsonian 

*. 

Expedition to Dominica: 

The Lichens 

(Parmeliaceae) 

Roseau Botanical Garden during a 1926 cruise, and 

his specimens are now preserved in the Smithsonian 

Institution (US). The only other lichenologist to visit 

the island, as far as I can determine, is Henry Imshaug, who spent about a month there in 1963. His 

specimens, which I have seen, are preserved at Michigan State University (MSC) and will form part of 

the materials for his proposed lichen flora of the 

West Indies. They are not included in this report 

except for P. fungicola, the only species I did not 

collect. 

In January 1969, I had an unparalleled opportunity to study and"col1ect the lichens of this unusual 

island under the sponsorship of the Morden-Smithsonian Expedition. The immediate goals of this work 

were to study changes in the lichen flora-especially 

any attributable to increasing destruction of the native vegetation-to revise Vainio's now outdated lists, 

and to compile from these and my own collections 

a modern lichen flora of Dominica. Families will be 

published separately as completed. This first part on 

the Parmeliaceae will be followed by the Physciaceae 

and the Thelotremataceae. A complete set of specimens is deposited in the Smithsonian Institution with 

duplicates as available going to the British Museum. 

Sincere thanks are due Mrs. William J. Morden, 

sponsor of the Morden-Smithsonian Expedition, who 

in addition arranged for curating and transportation 

facilities in Dominica. Under this program I was also 

able to visit herbaria in Europe for a special study of 

the historical Dominican and West Indian lichen collections. In this connection I want to give special 

thanks to Dr. Reino Alava (TUR) , Mr. Peter James 

(BM), and Mr. S. Christiansen (C) for providing 

space for study and permitting extensive loans. 

1 
2 

Physiography and Climate of Dominica 

Dominica is approximately 50 km long and 25 km 

wide with a maximum elevation of 1,420 m (Morne 

Diablotin) . There is a fairly extensive system of roads 

and trails that greatly simplify field work. The island 

is entirely of volcanic origin with active fumaroles and 

a boiling lake in the interior southeast of Roseau. The 

climate and vegetation zones have been summarized 

in detail by Hodges (1954). Briefly, the annual temperature variation is small, as one would expect for 

a tropical island lying near 15ON latitude. The west 

coast, facing the Caribbean, has a pronounced dry 

season from about February to June. The vegetation 

is xerophytic and in places savanna-like (Figure 1). 

The east coast is wetter, with dense low forest buffeted by the strong trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean. 

The bulk of the island above about 300 meters elevation is covered with primary and secondary rain 

forest (Figure 2). Rainfall here is heavy (in the range 

of 3,000 mm) and distributed more or less thoughout 

the year. Actual logging in this zone is going ahead 

at Pont Casse(Figure 3) and at the D’leau Gommier 

FIGURE 1.-Aspect of the dry scrub woodland (Barber’s 

Block in background) along the west coast of Dominica. 

FIGURE 2.-Rain forest in the center of the island (taken from near Springfield with Morne 

Diablotin in the background). 
NUMBER 4 3 

cana, and P. laevigatula. Parmelia subcrinita is common on rocks at Rodneys Rock. 

The lower rain forest zone between about 300 and 

600 m is the richest area for lichens. This is also the 

location of the numerous planted citrus groves (Figure 6). The commonest species here, both on virgin 

trees and citrus, are P. antillensis, P. dissecta, and 

P. laevigata; more rarely one will collect P. costaricensis or P. microblasta. The undisturbed rain forest 

zone above 700 m, extending upward to near 1,000 

m, is exceedingly poor in Parmelia species, and only 

P. subfatiscens grew here at all commonly and could 

be found only on the canopy branches of felled trees. 

Parmelia peralbida, a Caribbean endemic, was the 

only species collected in the mossy forest zone, and 

no species were found in the elfin Clusia forests. 

These distinctive lichen communities depend on the 

maintenance of the native forests or a similar environment for their continued existence. Lichens are 

among the first plants to succumb to pollution and 

habitat disturbances, no doubt because of their unusual nature, that of a composite plant association of 

fungus and alga. The delicate symbiotic balance between the two components is easily upset. Lichens 

have, therefore, considerable value as bio-indicators 

of the environment. Generally speaking, we can view 

a depauperate lichen flora, that is, the present flora 

compared with the original one reconstructed from 

historical records, as a reflection of this phenomenon. 

From the evidence of the past hundred years, it is 

obvious that urbanization and intensive farming have 

so altered the biosphere that only a few of the original 

plants and animals are able to survive in many temperate areas. 

When we compare the lichen flora of Dominica of 

80 years ago, as evidenced by Elliott's collections, with 

our results, we find that all the species have been recollected, sometimes at the very same locality. Surely 

this may be interpreted as a good sign that the pristine 

environment of Dominica has undergone little if any 

change. There is no general or localized air pollution 

such as now poses a serious threat to industrialized 

nations. The people here continue to live in a relatively undeveloped agricultural society, and even 

when rain forest is cleared for citrus, planted trees 

soon become colonized with native lichens that apparently invade from nearby undisturbed areas. 

The only significant ecological difference following 

invasion is that the rain forest lichens, such as P. antillensis, which normally inhabit the canopy of virgin 

FIGURE 3.-Logging road in primary rain forest about 1 krn 

southeast of Pont Casse.

Forest Reserve. Above about 1,000 m elevation is a 

transition to mossy forest where the stunted trees are 

draped with mosses. On higher exposed ridge tops 

above 1,300 m to the highest mountain tops (Figure 

4) one finds a peculiar elfin forest or thicket dominated by Clusia. 

Parmelia Vegetation 

The most interesting area on Dominica is the dry 

scrub woodland along the west coast, characterized 

by scattered deciduous trees and lava outcrops. Indicator species are P. dominicana, P. cristifera, and 

P. martinicana on the trees, and P. mordenii and 

P. subramigera on the rocks. Coconut palms in this 

belt, as well as along shorelines elsewhere on most 

of the island, are usually covered with P. endosulphurea (Figure 5), the most conspicuous lichen on 

the island, P. cristifera, P. praesorediosa, P. domini- 
4 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

FIGURE 4.-Elfin forest with Clusia on the summit of Morne Diablotin. 

trees, now grow on the lower branches and trunks of 

cultivated trees. In other words, the microenvironment of the canopy has now been shifted downward, 

but the persistence of lichens in this new habitat and 

in adjacent secondary forest is a favorable indication 

that the ecological changes are not catastrophic. 

The present commercial logging operations, however, can potentially inflict large-scale harm on the 

lichens, much more so than the effects of small-scale 

clearing practiced by the Dominicans. The difference 

is that loggers clear-cut over large areas, depriving 

the lichens of an immediate source of propagules and 

bringing on abrupt ecological changes. The first Parmelia to be affected is the West Indies-South Africa 

P. subfatiscens, a lichen confined to virgin forest 

canopy and not able to invade secondary forest. 

In another vegetation zone, the scrub woodland, 

local cutting is decimating habitats for the Caribbean endemic P. martinicana, which does not easily 

invade palm or other cultivated trees. This lichen, 

too, could disappear from the flora. 

In these two examples I am not implying that loss 

of the lichen flora would have even the remotest 

effect on the economy of Dominica, but land-use 

patterns that enable lichens to survive would reflect 

a more balanced management of the forest resources. 

In this case lichens would behave as indicators of 

undesirable ecological change. One cannot escape the 

conclusion that logging, for example, must be done 

selectively over smaller areas and that replanting programs be carried out vigorously if irreparable damage 

is not to be done to the watershed and soil. 

The Parmelia Flora 

Vainio ( 1896, 1915) reported 11 species of Parmelia 

from Elliott’s collections. A summary of these with 

my revisions is given below : 
NUMBER 4 5 

FIGURE 5.-coCo palm at the mouth of the Layou River, covered with 

Parmelia endosulphurea and P. dominicana. 

P. blastica Vainio=P. antillensis Nylander 

P. cryptochlora Vainio=correct determination 

P. dissecta Nylander=correct determination 

P. dominicana Vainio=correct determination (in part; see 

P. laevigata (Smith) Achariusz correct determination 

P. latissima var. cristifera (Taylor) Hue=P. cristifera Taylor 

P. martinicana Nylander=correct determination 

P. minarum Vainio=P. dissecta Nylander 

P. perlata var. flavogranulosa Vainio=P. dominicana Vainio 

P. peruviana Nylander=P. laevigata (Smith) Acharius 

P. tropica VainioZP. costaricensis Nylander 

discussion under P. mordenii) 

The revised total is 8 species that were collected 

by Elliott. I was able to re-collect all of these and an 

additional 13 species. Adding the record of P. fungicola by Imshaug, we now have a total of 22 species 

of Parmelia known in Dominica. Missing from the 

flora are such conspicuous pantropical weeds as P. 

crinita Acharius, P. latissima Fee, P. reticulata Taylor, and P. tinctorum Nylander. If these actually do 

occur on Dominica, they must be very rare. 

We know more of the lichens in the West Indies 

than in any other tropical region (see Imshaug's catalogue, 1957). Nearly 100 species of Parmelia are represented, with the greatest number on Jamaica and 

Hispaniola. The Parmelia flora of Dominica and the 

Lesser Antilles in general, however, is not as well 

developed, partly because these islands are geologically 

younger and less elevated, remote from the main 

routes of plant migration, and partly because of a 

climate hardly ideal for lichen growth, the lower elevations being very dry, even desertlike, and the higher 

elevations having excessive rainfall. Furthermore, the 

highest elevation in Dominica (1,420 m) is still well 

below the zone (1,600-2,000 m) where one can expect to find the highly developed montane oak forest 

so rich in Parmelia or the high elevation pine forests 

such as those in Hispaniola. 

The 22 species of Parmelia from Dominica may be 

categorized broadly as follows in the context of their 

West Indies and world-distribution patterns (species 

with asterisks are typically montane in the tropics ; 
6 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

FIGURE 6.-Citrus grove at the turnoff to Trafalgar Falls. 

those without asterisks are generally lowland weedy P. rnartinicana - 

species) : 

Pantropical: 

P. costarkensis* 

P. cristifera 

P. dissectan 

P. dominicana 

P. endosulphurea 

P. imbricatula* 

P. microblastan 

P. praesorediosa 

P. pseudosinuosan 

P. rockii" 

P. subcrinita 

P. subramigero 

P. congruens (with occurrence in Africa) 

P. fungicola 

P. laeuigatula 

P. antillensis" 

Tropical North and South America: 

Endemic to the Caribbean region: 

P. mordenii 

P. peralbida" 

Caribbean region-South Africa : 

P. subfatiscens" 

Endemic to Dominica : 

P. cryptochlora* 

Temperate North and South America and Europe: 

P. laeuigatan 

In the course of this study I had the opportunity 

to study other records of Parmelia from the Lesser 

Antilles published by Vainio on specimens preserved 

at TUR. Revisions of these are as follows: 

Parmelia addenda Vainio (1915, p. 21)=P. dissecta NyParrnelia borrerioides Nylander (1915, p. 20) =P. cryptoParmelia coralloidea (Meyen and Flotow) Vainio (1915, 

Parmelia crinita Acharius ( 1915, p. 14) =correct determinalander (Dun 1030, Guadeloupe) . 

chlorophaea Hale (Lossen, Trinidad). 

p. 16) =P. tinctorurn Nylander (all reports listed). 

tion (Eggers, St. Thomas; Hornbeck, Virgin Islands). 
NUMBER 4 7 

Parmelia chilena Nylander ( 1896, p. 34) =P. scortella Nylander (Elliott 17, St. Andrews). I have been unable to 

typify P. chilena from the materials available in the Nylander herbarium. 

Parmelia granatensis Nylander (1915, p. 20)= P. martinicana Nylander (Raunkiaer 545, St. Crok). 

Parmelia lusitana Nylander and P. lusitana var. decipiens 

Vainio (1915, p. 24)=P. subramigera Gyelnik (all records 

listed except for Boergesen (St. Thomas), which is close 

to P. plittii Gyelnik and contains stictic acid). 

Parmelia microblasta Vainio (1915, p. 21)=comect determination (Duss 676, Guadeloupe). 

Parmelia perlata “Krempelhuber” ( 1915, p. 13) = P. dilatata Vainio (Lassen, Trinidad). 

Parmelia raunkiaeri Vainio (1915, p. 19)=comect determination (Raunkiaer 451 and Boergesen, St. Croix). 

Parmelia scabrosa Vainio (1896, p. 33)=P. martinicana 

(Elliott 249, St. Vincent). 

Parmelia scortella Nylander (1915. p. 22)=? (Specimen so 

named (Lassen) not found at TUR or C). 

Parmelia sulphurata Nees and Flotow (1915, p. 16)=P. 

endosulbhurea (Hillmann) Hale (all records listed). 

Parmelia subcrinita Nylander ( 1915, p. 16) =correct determination (Boergesen, St. Thomas). 

Finally, I published a record of P. dilatata from 

Dominica (Hale, 1965, p. 247) but on reexamination 

the specimen cited, Evans 57, proved to be P. dominicana. 

Taxonomic Arrangement 

The species are listed alphabetically in the main list. 

Their phylogenetic arrangement is, according to the 

classifications proposed by Hale (1965) and Hale and 

Kurokawa ( 1964), as follows: 

Subgenus Xanthoparmelia (Vainio) Hale 

Subgenus Amphigymnia (Vainio) Dodge 

P. subramigera 

Section Amphigymnia 

P. cristifera 

P. dominicana 

P. endosulphurea 

P. mordenii 

P. peralbida 

P. praesorediosa 

P. subcrinita 

Section Perlatae (Muller-Argau) Jatta 

Subgenus Parmelia 

Section Zmbricaria (Schreber) Fries 

This sectional name antedates section Subflavescentes 

(Vainio) Gyelnik, which I had proposed in a monograph of 

subgenus Amphicymnia (Hale, 1965, p. 269) (see Culberson, 1966, p. 225). Accordingly, series Emaculatae Hale 

would be synonymous with series Perlatae. 

P. antillensis 

P. cryptochlora 

P. dissecta 

P. subfatiscens 

P. fungicola 

P. laevigatula 

P. congruens 

P. martinicana 

P. costaricensis 

P. imbricatula 

P. laevigata 

Section Bicornuta Lynge 

Section Cyclocheila (Vainio) Rasanen 

Section Hypotrachyna Vainio 

16 l7 

18 

11 

20 21 

19 

Scotts Head 4//5+-= 

FIGURE 7.-Localities where Parmelia specimens were 

collected by Hale (see text for explanation). 
8 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

P. microblasta 

P. pseudosinuosa 

P. rockii 

Collecting Localities 

I collected Parmelia specimens at 21 of approximately 

35 localities visjted on the island (see Figure 7). 

These are coded by the following numbers in the list 

of specimens examined. 

Dry Scrub Woodlands 

1. Along road south of Portsmouth (sea level) ; roadside 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

palms and evergreen trees. 

outcrops. 

outcrops. 

and on cliffs. 

and outcrops at shoreline. 

nut palm plantation. 

Just north of Bioche (60 m) ; deciduous scrub forest and 

Near Coulibistri (30 m) ; deciduous scrub forest and 

Grand Savane (30-50 m) ; deciduous scrub in savanna 

Rodneys Rock (sea level) ; dense evergreen scrub forest 

Flood plain at mouth of Layou River (sea level) ; cocoClarke Hall (30 m) ; palm and cocoa plantations. 

Scotts Head (sea level) ; rocks and hardwood trees above 

shoreline. 

Littoral Woodland 

Rosalie Bay (sea level) ; palm plantations. 

Grand Bay (sea level) ; palm plantations. 

Sera1 Vegetation 

11. Road to Laudat at Trafalgar turnoff (200 m) ; citrus 

12. East of Pichelin (200 m) ; roadside outcrops and trees. 

groves. 

Rain Forest 

13. Felicite (400 m) ; secondary rain forest along road. 

14. Syndicate Estate (600 m) ; citrus groves and remains of 

15. Jean (650 m) ; remnants of rain forest. 

16. Dom-Can logging area at Brantridge Estate (550 m); 

17. Dom-Can logging area just east of Pont Casse (650 m); 

18. Laudat (300-450 m) ; secondary rain forest. 

19. Valley of Desolation (800 m) ; hardwood trees in stabilized area. 

20. Giraudel (600-650 m) ; disturbed secondary rain forest 

and pasture. 

Mossy Forest 

21. Trail from Giraudel to Morne Anglais (800-1,000 m) ; 

rain forest. 

disturbed rain forest, now being selectively logged. 

virgin rain forest being clear-cut. 

rain forest intergrading into mossy forest. 

Surprisingly no Parmelia species were found at the 

D’leau Gommier Forest Reserve (800 m) in the 

center of the island, now being clear-cut, or at a 

logging area at about 300 m, Newfoundland, on the 

east coast. Nor was I able to find any Parmeliae in the 

Freshwater Lake area (beyond Laudat), at Morne 

Diablotin, or on the summit of Morne Anglais. 

Key to Species of Parmelia 

The following key includes the 22 species so far collected in Dominica, in addition to several 

others enclosed in brackets that occur on other islands in the Lesser Antilles and might yet be 

found on Dominica. 

1. Thallus large, 6-25 cm in diameter, usually loosely attached to adnate; lobes quite broad, 

3-15 mm wide ................................................................................ 2 

[2. Thallus lacking soredia and isidia .................................... P. xollingeri Hepp] 

2. Thallus with soredia or isidia ................................................................................... 3 

3. Soredia present ................................................................................................ 4 

4. Soredia distinctly yellowish (usnic acid) ...................................... 

4. Soredia white ........................................................................ 

5. Medulla K+ yellow turning red ...................................................... P. cristijera 

5. Medulla K- or slowly K+ faint yellow ........................................................... 6 

6. Medulla p+ red ...................................................... P. dilatata 

6. Medulla P- or P+ faint yellow ............................................................ 7 

7. Growing on rocks ................................................................ P. mordenii 

7. Growing on trees ................................................... P. praesorediosa 

3. Soredia lacking but upper surface covered with isidia ...................................... 8 

8. Medulla when exposed pale orange yellow . , , . . , , , , , , , , . , , , . , , , . . , , . . , . , , , , , . P. endosulphuren 

8. Medulla white ..................................................................................... 9 

[9. Medulla C+ deep red (see also P. martinicana) ........................... P. tincforum] 

9. Medulla C- ............................................................................................... 10 

10. Collected on rocks ................................... ................ P. subcrinita 
NUMBER 4 

Key to Species of Parmelia-Continued 

9 

10. Collected on trees ........................... 

11. Collected in dry scrub woodland; isidia short, often deformed and irregular 

P. martinieana 

11. Collected in citrus groves, rain forest, or mossy forest; isidia 

12. Medulla K- .............................................................. 

tall, cylindrical ............................................................. 

12. Medulla K+ yellow turning red ...................................... P. untillensis 

1. Thallus small to medium sized, 2-10 cm broad, usually closely adnate; lobes narrow, 1-4 

mm wide ......................................................................................................... 13 

13. Thallus lacking isidia and soredia ................................................................. P. congrlcens 

13. Thallus isidiate or sorediate to pustulate .......................................................... 14 

14. Thallus isidiate ........................................................................................ 15 

15. Collected on rocks ............................................................................ P. subramigera 

15. Collected on trees .................................................................... 16 

16. Thallus greenish yellow ...................................................... P. microblasta 

16. Thallus whitish mineral gray ........................................................................ 17 

17. Medulla K+ yellow turning red ........................................... P. antillensis 

17. Medulla K- ....................................................................................... 18 

18. Margins of lobes without cilia; rhizines densely dichotomously branched, 

sometimes projecting outward along the margin ................................. 19 

19. Medulla KC+ orange .................................................... p. hbricatula 

19. Medulla KC- P. costaricensis 

20 

20. Margins ciliate, the cilia simple ....................................... 

20. Margins inflated bulbate-ciliate ..................................................... 2 1 

22 

P. ZaeuigatuZa 

greenish to tan miner ...................... P. scortellal 

14. Thallus sorediate ................................. ............................................ 23 

se ...................................... 24 

24. Medulla C+, KC+ orange ......................................... P. Eaarigata 

24. Medulla C- or C+, KC+ rose ........................................................ 25 

25. Medulla P+ red .............................................................. p. p5edosinm5a 

25. Medulla P- ,. .,.., .. ........................................................... p. rockii 

23. Rhizines simple or furcate, usually sparse .......................... 26 

P. subfatiscens 

27 

..... P. cryptochlora 

P. cryptochlorophaeo Hale] 

................................................................. 

18. Margins of lobes ciliate or bulbate-ciliate ............................................. 

21. Isidia becoming flattened and lobulate ......................... P. fungicola 

21. Isidia all cylindrical, not lobulate ................................................ 

22. Medulla deep C+ red (lecanoric acid) ; thallus thick, whitish 

[22. Medulla C+ rose (gyrophoric acid) ; thallus thin, 

23. Rhizines richly dichotomously branch 

26. Soralia pustulate, irregular and mostly lamina1 .......... 

26. Soralia with powdery soredia, marginal or subterminal ........ 

27. Lobes 1-2 mm wide, linear; medulla C+ rose 

[27. Lobes 3-5 mm wide, sublinear and rotund; medulla CList of Species formic acid (5:4:1 v/v), spraying with 10% 

H,SO, and heating for 10 minutes at 110OC. IdentiThe species are listed in alphabetic order with the fication was made by comparing acetone extracts of 

following information : the Dominican specimens with known pure compounds or extracts of lichens of proven composition 

on the same chromatogram; confirmatory microcrystal tests were made in some cases. 

World distribution and habitats as determined 

from literature reports, unpublished notes, and herCitation with synonymy. 

Brief description with diagnostic characters. 

Chemistry as determined with thin-layer chromatography : Merck SO2 -F254-coated glass plates, using two solvent systems simultaneously, benzenedioxane-acetic (90 : 25 : 4 v/v) and hexane-ether- barium specimens. 
10 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

Discussion of important features of the species and 

their relationships. 

Specimens examined : Elliott’s material in BM 

and TUR, Evans material in US, and Hale collections 

in US with coded localities. 

1. Parmelia antillensis 

Parmelia antillensis Nylander, 1869, p. 264. 

P. blastica Vainio, 1896, p. 32. [Type collection: Shawford 

Estate, Dominica, Elliott 899 (BM, lectotype; TUR, isotype).] 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-Matouba, Guadeloupe, Husnot 445 (H, Nylander Herbarium 35200, lectotype; 

G, P, isotypes). 

DEscRIPTIoN.-Thah adnate to loosely attached, 

whitish mineral gray, membranous, 6-10 cm in diameter; lobes subirregular, rotund, imbricate to 

crowded and convoluted, 4-5 mm wide; marginal 

cilia sparse ; upper surface plane, continuous, becoming white-pruinose at the lobe tips, moderately isidiate, the isidia mostly simple, less than 0.5 mm high; 

lower surface densely rhizinate except for a narrow 

naked zone along the margins, black at the center 

and brown at the margin, the rhizines simple. Apothecia rare, adnate, 3-5 mm in diameter; spores 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla Kf yellow to red, C-, KC-, P+ pale 

orange (norstictic acid). A trace of salacinic acid is 

also probably present. The unknown spot accompanying norstictic acid in P. microblasta is lacking. 

5-6 X 7-8u. 

FIGURE 8.-Parmelia antillensis, x 1 (Hale 35333) 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-united 

States (Tennessee), Mexico, Honduras, West Indies; 

on hardwoods at mid-elevations (600-2,000 m) . This species is very common on citrus trees in the 

citrus belt along the west coast and is, in fact, the 

most commonly collected Parmelia on the island. It 

occurs only on canopy branches in undisturbed rain 

forest. The closely related nonisidate norstictic acidcontaining P. phlyctina Hale was not found here. 

These two Caribbean endemics are the only species in 

section Imbricaria that produce norstictic acid. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-shaWfOrd Estate, Elliott 

1592 (TUR) , 900 (BM, TUR, syntype of P. blastica 

Vainio) ; Laudat, Elliott s.n. (TUR), with 912 

(TUR) . Hale collections: 11 (35796), 14 (s.n., to be 

distributed in Vezda, Lichenes Selecti Exsiccati) , 17 

(35140), 18 (35592, 35596, 35598), 20 (35755, 

35504), 21 (35333). 

2. Parmelia congruens 

Parmelia congruens Acharius, 1810, p. 491. 

P. leucochlora Tuckerman in Nylander, 1860, p. 392. [Type 

collection: Louisiana, Hale (FH-Tuck, lectotype; US, 

isotype). Not P. leucochlora (Montagne) Gay, 1852, p. 

152 [=Lecideo].] 

P. cubensis Nylander, 1885, p. 611. [Type collection: Cuba, 

Wright, Lichenes cubi 76 (H, holotype; FH, K, US, isoP. uleana Muller-Argau, 1889, p. 506. [Type collection: 

Morro da Nova Cintra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ule 10 (G, 

holotype) .] 

types). 1 

FIGURE 9.-Parmelia congruens, x 1, (Hale 35636). 
NUMBER 4 11 

P. flavidoglauca Vainio, 1890, p. 65. [Type collection: Caraca, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Vainio, Lichenes Brasilienses 

Exsiccati 1301 (TUR, holotype; BM, FH, UPS, isotypes).] 

P. endoxantha Merrill, 1909, p. 73. [Type collection: Sanford, Florida, Rapp (FH, holotype) .] 

P. bipindensis Dodge, 1959, p. 59. [Type collection: Bipinde, 

Cameroons, Zenker 4053 pro parte (K, holotype).] 

P. zenkeri Dodge, 1959, p. 74. [Type collection: Bipinde, 

Cameroons, Zenker 4053 (K, holotype; L, isotype).] 

TYPE cOLLEcTIoN.-North America, Swartt (UPS, 

lectotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Thallus closely adnate on bark, 5- 

10 cm in diameter, pale greenish mineral gray, often 

turning chamois in the herbarium ; lobes sublinearelongate, 2-4 mm wide; upper surface plane to convex, more or less maculate, rugulose to minutely pitted 

with age; medulla white to pale yellow; lower surface light tan to pale olive brown, rugose, moderately 

rhizinate, the rhizines simple, tan. Apothecia common, adnate, 2-3 mm in diameter; spores 6-8 X 7-9u.

atranorin and usnic acid) ; medulla yellowish with 

the color reagents ( ?barbatic acid, ?stictic acid, unknowns). The chemistry is complex and still not resolved. Spots are numerous and streaked on chromatographic plates. The yellowish medulla may be conspicuously developed to very pale. 

United States, West Indies, Mexico, Central America, 

northern South America, Congo, Angola, Madagascar; on palms, cypress, and hardwoods at low elevation (sea level to 1,200 m) . This widespread tropical species has been poorly 

understood, as one would surmise from the list of 

synonyms. The identity of the species in North America, the type locality, has never been established, and 

when used the name has been applied to species such 

as P. caperata and P. conspersa. I have typified P. congruens from a fragment in the Uppsala Herbarium, 

a Swartz specimen, there being no satisfactory material in the Acharian Herbarium (H) . It has a light 

olive-brown lower surface with simple coarse rhizines 

and lacks cilia and soredia or isidia, four features that 

make identification of the species more or less unequivocal. Parmelia hypomiltha Fee is morphologically very close but has an anthraquinone in the lower 

medulla. Parmelia cyphellata Santesson, known from 

a single collection in Brazil, is apparently the isidiate 

counterpart of P. congruens. 

CHEMISTRY.-cOrteX K + yellowish (traces Of 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-SOUthern 

Parmelia congruens is always corticolous and in 

Dominica occurs on sheltered cocoa palms in the 

northwestern part of the island. 

(35636), 6 (35775), 7 (35779). 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-Hale COlleCtiOnS: 2 

3. Parmelia costaricensis 

Parmelia costaricensis Nylander in Polakowsky, 1877, p. 225. 

P. sublaevigata f. isidiosa Muller-Argau, 1880, p. 267. [Type 

collection: Petropolis, Brazil, Deventer 49 (G, holotype) .] 

P. tropica Vainio, 1896, p. 33. [Type collection: Hermitage 

Woods, St. Vincent, Elliott 276 (BM, lectotpye; TUR, 

isotype) .] 

P. tropica var. deformis Vainio, 1896, p. 33. [Type collection: St. Vincent, Elliott 12 (BM, lectotype).] 

P. deformis (Vainio) Vainio, 1907, p. 169. 

P. amoena Zahlbruckner, 1908, p. 464. [Type collection: 

Serro do Ouro Preto, Brazil, Damazio 1435 (WU, lectotype; H, isotype).] 

TYPE coLLEcTI0N.-Angostura, Costa Rica, Polskowsky (H, Nylander Herbarium 35202, holotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate to loosely attached, 

whitish mineral gray, 6-10 cm in diameter; lobes sublinear to subirregular, 2-6 mm wide; upper surface 

plane, usually strongly maculate, moderately isidiate, 

the isidia simple or branched; lower surface moderately rhizinate, black, the rhizines dichotomously 

branched. Apothecia rare (not seen in Dominica), 

adnate, 2-7 mm in diameter; spores 4-6x8-lou. 

CHEMrsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla negative with color reagents (protolichesFIGURE 10.-Parmelia costaricensis, x 2 (Hale 35569a). 
12 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

terinic acid, possibly intermixed with caperatic acid) . As with most fatty acid-containing species of Parmelia, the chemistry is not fully elucidated. The present microcrystal tests do not adequately separate fatty 

acids. In this particular species the feathery crystals 

from G.E. solution suggest that protolichesterinic acid 

at least predominates. 

Central and South America, Philippines, Indonesia, 

and Malaysia; on tree trunks and rocks at mid to 

high elevations (4O0-3,300 m) . Although Elliott collected some large specimens of 

P. costaricensis, this seems to be a rare lichen in 

Dominica. It has rather broad lobes in contrast to 

the more usual linear-elongate lobes of section Hypotrachyna. Rhizines form a dense mat. Maculae in the 

upper cortex are usually conspicuous in New World 

specimens, less so or absent in Asian populations 

tentatively identified with P. costaricensis. The specles 

is superficially close to P. imbricatula (see under that 

species) and all isidiate specimens with branched 

rhizines should be color tested with KC, P. imbricatula being deep KC + orange. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-shawford Estate, Elliott 

1529 (TUR). Hale collection: 14 (35569a). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-weSt Indies, 

4. Parmeliu cristifera 

Parmelia cristifera Taylor, 1847, p. 165. [For full synonymy 

see Hale, 1965, p. 241.1 

TYPE COLLECTION.-calCUtta, India, Wallich (FHTayl, lectotype) . DEScRIPTroN.-Thallus loosely attached, light mineral gray, 10-25 cm broad; lobes broad and rotund, 

12-20 mm wide; margins of lobes sorediate, the 

soralia linear; upper surface dull, continuous or becoming cracked with age; lower surface black and 

sparsely rhizinate at the center, naked and brown 

along the margins. Apothecia rare (not seen in Dominica), 1-5 mm in diameter; spores 13-18 x 26-35u. 

CHEMrsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K + yellow to red, C--, KC-, P + orange 

red (salacinic acid) , 

on trees and rocks at lower elevations (sea level to 

1,500 m) . This common pantropical weed is well developed 

in Dominica, usually growing on palm trees. It is 

close to the protocetraric acid-containing P. dilatata 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-PantrOpiCal; 

FIGURE 11.-Parmelia cristifera, x 1 (Hale 35788). 

Vainio, which has not yet been found in Dominica. 

Differences between the two species are cited in Hale 

(1965). I should add here that through a lapsus 

calami I listed P. gardneri Dodge as a synonym of 

P. cristifera, but this species should be identified 

with P. dilatata. At the same time, P. sieberi Dodge, 

which I called a synonym of P. dilatata (p. 245), is 

a synonym of P. cristifera. 

1339 (TUR) . Hale collections : 

(35633), 6 (35788), 9 (35391), 11 

Roseau Botanical Garden, Evans 64 

\ROSeaU Valley, Elliott 

1 (35694), 2 

(35800, 35802). 

(US) * 

5. Parmelia cryptochlora 

Parmelia cryptochlora Vainio, 1896, p. 34. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Laudat, Dominica, Elliott 91 2 

(BM, holotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Thallus closely adnate on bark, 

small, 2-3 cm broad; lobes linear, 1-2 mm wide; 

upper surface plane, sorediate toward the lobe tips, 

soralia capitate, up to 1 mm in diameter, the soredia 

farinose ; cilia sparsely developed along the margins, 

0.1-0.2 mm long; lower surface black, sparsely rhizinate, the rhizines simple ; no apothecia present. 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 
NUMBER 4 13 

FIGURE 12.-Parmelia cryptochlora, x 1 % (Hale 35357) 

medulla K-, C + , KC + rose, P- (gyrophoric 

acid). 

Dominica; on hardwoods at mid elevations (600-800 

m) , entering mossy forest. 

The type of P. cryptochlora is so fragmentary that 

I was previously unable to typify it. From the larger 

specimens that I collected in Dominica, it can now 

be placed in section Imbricaria, most closely allied 

to P. dissecta, an isidiate species. It could be mistaken 

at first for P. reuoluta Floerke, but the soredia are 

capitate and powdery in contrast to the irregular 

sorediate-pustulate soralia of P. reuoluta. Rhizines 

are poorly developed but appear unbranched or at 

most furcate, whereas in P. reuoluta the rhizines are 

at least in major part dichotomously branched. 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-Endemic to 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-Hak! COlleCtiOn: 20 (35- 

357). 

6. Parmelia dissecta 

Parmelia dissecta Nylander, 1882, p. 45 1. 

P. laevigata var. gracilis f. furfuracea Muller-Argau, 188813, 

p. 529. [Type collection: Hambi, near Faxina, Brazil, 

Puiggari 47 (G, holotype) .] 

P. minarum Vainio, 1890, p. 48. [Type collection: Sitio, 

Minas Gerais, Brazil, Vainio, Lichenes Brasilienses Exsiccati 1040 (TUR, Vainio Herbarium 2689, holotype; 

BM, FH, UPS, isotypes) .] 

P. amaronica var. husnotii Hue, 1899, p. 158. [Type collection: Martinique and Guadeloupe, Husnot 441 (P, holoP. puiggari Gyelnik, 1931, p. 288. [Based on P. laevigata 

P. camtschadalis var. epiphylla Cengia Samho, 1938, p. 379. 

type) .I 

var. gracilis f. furfuracea Muller-Argau.] 

[Type collection: Mufindi, Tanganyika, Balbo 43 (FI, 

holotype) .] 

P. hubrichtii Berry, 1941, p. 102. [Type collection: 1.4 mi. 

north of Jarvis Store, Knox Go., Kentucky, Hubricht 

13305 (MO, holotype) .] 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-Fontainebleau, France, Nylander (H, Nylander Herbarium 35131, holotype) . DESCRIPTION.-Thallus adnate, 3-8 cm broad; 

greenish mineral gray ; lobes sublinear to irregular, 

2-4 mm wide; marginal cilia distinct, 0.3-0.7 mm 

long; upper surface plane and continuous, moderately 

to densely isidiate, the isidia cylindrical, erect, simple 

to branched, up to 0.5 mm high; lower surface moderately rhizinate, the rhizines simple or in part sparsely 

furcate. Apothecia adnate, 1-3 mm in diameter, the 

amphithecium isidiate; spores 8-10 X 12-1 7u. 

FIGURE 13.-Parmlia dissecta, X 1 (Hale 35462) 

CHEMxsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C+, KC+ rose, P- (gyrophoric 

acid). 

ate and pantropical montane; on rocks, conifers, and 

hardwoods. 

Parmelia dissecta, first described from France, was 

never well understood by most lichenologists who saw 

it from the tropics, although Vainio correctly identified several specimens from Dominica. There is 

considerable variation in lobe width, the Dominican 

material for example being quite robust. Other speciWORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-Pantemper- 
14 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

mens will have very narrow lobes (about 1 mm 

wide) , but the unifying characters, marginal cilia, 

isidia, and the C + color reaction, seem to encompass 

a single population throughout the wide geographic 

range. A close relative, P. horrescens Taylor, does not 

occur on Dominica; it has an almost identical range 

but differs in chemistry (a KC+ unknown that is 

also present in P. subfatiscens) and in having more 

or less flattened to lobulate isidia, some with apical 

cilia. In the West Indies P. horrescens usually occurs 

on pine trees at high elevation. 

SPECIMENS ExAMINED.-Girondelle, Elliott 1584, 

Roseau Valley, Elliott s.n., and Shawford Estate, 

Elliott 1592 (TUR) . Hale collections : 13 (35604), 

14 (35569), 18 (35593), 20 (35462, 35480, 35486, 

35505), and 21 (35356). 

7. Parmelia dominicana 

Parmelia dominicana Vainio, 1896, p. 32. 

P. perlata var. flavogranulosa Vainio, 1915, p. 13. [Type 

collection: Mt. Stewart, St. Croix, Raunkiaer 433 (TUR, 

lectotype; C, isotype) .] 

P. capitulifera Zahlbruckner in Magnusson, 1942, p. 9. 

[Type collection: Punaluu, Oahu, Hawaii, Rock 176 

(W, lectotype; BPI, isotype) .] 

TYPE coLLEcTroN.-Crater Souffriere, Dominica, 

Elliott 114 (TUR, holotype) . DEscRrPTIoN.-Thallus loosely adnate, up to 15 cm 

in diameter, mineral gray with a yellowish tinge; lobes 

broad and rotund, 8-12 mm wide; sorediate along the 

margins, soralia orbicular to linear, the soredia powdery, distinctly yellowish, cilia lacking; lower surface 

black and sparsely rhizinate, naked and brown in a 

FIGURE 14.-Parmelia dominicana, x 1 (Hale 35785). 

zone along the margin. Apothecia rare, 3-5 mm in 

diameter; spores 5-7 x 16-18u .

CHEMISTRY.-cOrteX K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K- or faint yellow, C-, KC-, P+ red 

orange (protocetraric acid). Usnic acid is present 

in the soredia. 

America, Angola, Congo, Rhodesia, Hawaii; on trees 

at lower elevations (sea level to 1,200 m). 

Parmelia dominicana is a distinct and easily recognized species on Dominica and over most of its 

range. In some regions, however, there is intergradation with P. dilatata Vainio, which in general has 

more irregular sparse soralia, mostly on short marginal 

lobules, and white soredia, although traces of usnic 

acid may be present in the upper cortex. Both species 

contain protocetraric acid. 

It was evident that Vainio was confused on the 

identity of his new species. The holotype is corticolous 

and has the distinct yellowish soralia so characteristic 

of P. dominicana. In his later publication, however, 

he identified identical material frpm Prince Rupert 

as P. perlata var. flavogranulosa and called several 

rock-inhabiting specimens from St. Thomas P. dominicana. This latter material on rock is P. mordenii 

(see under the species) . Parmelia dominicana occurs mostly on palm trees 

along the west coast in Dominica and is the most 

common lichen in the Roseau Botanical Garden. It 

does not occur in the rain forest. 

(TUR). Hale collections: 1 (35674), 2 (35632A, 

35640), 6 (35785), 7 (35792), and 8 (35756A). 

Roseau Botanical Garden, Euans 57 (NY) and 59 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-Tropical 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-PrinCe Rupert, Elliott 13 10 

(US). 

8. Parmelia endosulphurea 

Parmelia endosulphurea (Hillmann) Hale, 1965, p. 25 1. 

P. tinctorum var. endosulphurea Hillmann, 1940, p. 8. [For 

full synonymy see Hale ( 1965, p. 25 1 ) .] 

TYPE COLLECTION.-MeXiCO, Orcutt 4728 (MO, 

lectotype) . DEscRrPTIoN.-Thallus large, loosely adnate, 10- 

20 cm broad, light greenish mineral gray; upper 

surface plane, densely isidiate, the isidia cylindrical, 

simple to branched ; medulla pale orange yellow; 

lower surface black and sparsely rhizinate at the 

center, dark brown and naked in a broad zone at 
NUMBER 4 15 

P. pseudocoronata Gyelnik, 1931, p. 289. [Based on P. coronata f. isidiosa Muller-Argau.] 

FIGURE lj.-Parmelia endosulphurea, x 1 (Hale 35786). 

the margins. Apothecia not common, 5-8 mm in 

diameter; spores 6-9 x 19-23u. 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellowish (atranorin) ; 

medulla deeper yellow with color reagents (unidentified substances present). TLC plates give streaks of 

unresolved spots. The yellow pigment may be secaIonic acid or a related compound (Yosioka et al., 

1968, p. 2090). 

but rare outside of the Caribbean region; on conifers 

and hardwoods at low elevations (sea level to 1,000 

Until the yellow-orange medulla is exposed, this 

species can be mistaken for P. tinctorurn, which has 

a white medulla and coarser, almost granular isidia. 

Parmelia endosulphurea has also been misidentified 

as P. sulphurata Nees and Flotow, a ciliate species 

with brilliant vulpinic acid in the medulla. 

Parmelia endosulphurea is the commonest foliose 

lichen on cultivated palm trees in Dominica on both 

the Caribbean and Atlantic sides of the island. 

Strangely it was not collected by Elliott. 

675), 5 (35543), 6 (35786, s.n., to appear in Weber’s 

Lichenes Exsiccati), 7 (35789), 9 (35383), 10 (35- 

708), 11 (35795), and 12 (35381). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-PantrOpiCal 

m) * 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-Hde COlleCtiOnS 1 (35- 

9. Parmelia fungicola 

Parmelia fungicola Lynge, 1914, p. 129. 

P. coronata f. isidiosa Miiller-Argau, 1888a, p. 56. [Type 

collection: Paraguay, Balansa 4157 (G, holotype; K, W, 

isotypes) .] 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-Santa Anna da Chapada, 

Mato Grosso, Brazil, Malme 2438B (S, holotype). 

DESCRIPTIoN.-Tha~lus closely adnate on bark, 

fragile, pale olive-gray, 2-3 cm in diameter; lobes 

sublinear-elongate, 0.2-1 .O mm wide; margins entire 

to lobulate with bulbate cilia; upper surface plane, 

shiny, lobulate-isidiate ; lower surface black, short 

rhizinate, the rhizines branched. Apothecia adnate, 

coronate, 0.7-2.0 mm in diameter, amphithecium 

with retrorse rhizines; spores bicornute, 3-4 x 9-lop. 

CHEMwrRY.-Cortex K + yellowish (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C- or C +, KC+ rose, P- (gyrophoric acid). Insufficient material of the species is 

available for full chemical analysis. Some C- material may not contain gyrophoric acid. 

FIGURE 16.-Parmelia fungicola, X5 (Wetmore 3925 from 

Dominican Republic). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-Caribbean 

region, Brazil, Paraguay; on trees at low elevation 

(sea level to 400 m) . 

The marginal bulbate cilia immediately identify 

this tiny lichen as a member of section Bicornuta, 

somewhat related to P. laevigatula Nylander but differing in chemistry, thinner thallus, and prostrate 

lobulate isidia. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-BOiS Serpe, Imshaug 32758, 

32760, 32762 (MSC). 
16 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

10. Parmelia imbricatula 

Parmelia imbricatula Zahlbruckner, 1909, p. 168. 

P. laeuigata f. isidiosa Muller-Argau, 1891, p. 377. [Type 

collection : Ootacamum, Nilgherries, India, Foulkes (K, 

holotype; G, isotype) .] 

P. lobulifera var. luteoreagens Degelius, 1941, p. 61. [Type 

collection: Myrtle Point, Mt. LeConte, Tennessee, Degelius (DEGEL, lectotype) .] 

P. inconstans Zahlbruckner in Magnusson and Zahlbruckner, 

1944, p. 94. [Type collection : Kahaluamano, Kauai, 

Hawaii, Rock 175 (W, holotype; US, isotype).] 

TYPE coLLEcTroN.--Near Barra Mansa, Itapecirica, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Schiffner (W, holotype; 

MICH, isotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Tha~lus adnate, 5-10 cm in diameter, whitish mineral gray but turning pale tannish in the herbarium ; lobes sublinear-elongate, 2-3 

mm wide; upper surface plane, shiny, strongly maculate, moderately isidiate, the isidia thin, rarely 

branched, sometimes darkening at the tips ; lower surface densely rhizinate, the rhizines dichotomously 

branched. Apothecia rare (not seen in Dominica), 

2-10 mm in diameter; spores 7-10 x 11-16p. 

is a characteristic of these species. 

United States, West Indies, Mexico and Central 

America, Brazil, Hawaii, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand; on conifers and hardwoods at 

mid to high elevations (1,000-3,500 m) , 

This common pantropical montane lichen (although lacking in Africa) is characterized by isidia 

and presence of barbatic acid. Close relatives are the 

sorediate P. laevigata, also known from Dominica, 

and nonsorediate P. boliviana Nylander. A nearly 

morphologically identical isidiate species with evernic 

acid instead of barbatic is P. bogotensis Vainio, which 

does not occur in the Lesser Antilles. 

Parmelia imbricatula is a rain forest lichen in 

Dominica, seemingly rather rare. It could be misidentified as P. costaricensis without a chemical test 

with KC. 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.--SOUtheaStern 

SPECIMEN ExAMINED.--Hak COlleCtiOn : 21 

(35345). 

1 1. Parmelia laevigata 

Lichen laeuigatus Smith, 1808, p. 1852. 

Parmelia laeuigata (Smith) Acharius, 1814, p. 202. 

P. boliuiana var. cephalota Zahlbruckner, 1925-26, p. 16. 

[Type collection : Loma Frai Jorge, Coquimbo, Chile, 

Skottsberg 448 (W, holotype; S, isotype) .] 

TYPE coLLEcT1oN.-Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, 

North Wales, England, Davies (LINN, holotype) . 

FIGURE 17.-Parmelia imbricatula, x 1 (Hale 35345). 

CHEMrsrRY.--Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C +, KC + yellowish orange, P- to 

faint (barbatic acid, 4-0-demethylbarbatic acid, obtusatic acid, “norobtusatic acid,” and other unknowns). The information on chemistry has been 

kindly supplied by Dr. C. F. Culberson, who is studying the complex chemistry of the barbatic acid-containing Parmeliae. The distinct KC + orange reaction FIGURE 18.-Parmelia laeuigata, X 1 (Hale 35467). 
NUMBER 4 17 

DESCRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate, 3-8 cm broad, 

greenish mineral gray; lobes linear-elongate, 1.5-3.0 

mm wide; upper surface shiny, maculate, pustulatesorediate, soralia subterminal, capitate; lower surface black, densely rhizinate, the rhizines dichotomously branched. Apothecia very rare (not seen in 

Domirika) . CHEMrsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C+ pale orange or C-, KC+ deep 

orange, P- or P+ faint yellow (barbatic acid, 4-0- 

demethylbarbatic acid, obtusatic acid, “norobtusatic 

acid,” and other unknowns). This is the same barbatic acid complex present in P. imbricatula. 

States (South Dakota, North Carolina), West Indies, 

Mexico, Colombia, Juan Fernandez and Chile, and 

Europe (Spain to Norway) ; on trees and rocks (montane in the tropics, 1,000-3,300 m). 

Parmelia laevigata is a well known European 

species that has often been misidentified in the tropics. It is quite common in southern South America, 

very rare in North America, and sporadic in its OCcurrence in montane tropical regions. The distinguishing features are the initially pustulate subterminal soralia, maculae, the presence of the barbatic acid complex, and the branched rhizines. It is 

actually morphologically identical with P. rockii, 

which contains evernic and lecanoric acids. The 

species is rather common in Dominica, occurring 

typically in the rain forest zone. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-MOrm Couliabon, Elliott 

1556, 1559 (TUR) ; Roseau Valley, Elliott 1321 

(TUR) . Hale collections : 15 (35520), 18 (35592), 

19 (35722), 20 (35467), 21 (35336, 35363). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-united 

12. Pamnelia laeuigatula 

Parmelia laeuigatula Nylander,l885, p. 614. 

P. hookeri Taylor, 1847, p. 169. [Type collection: St. Vincent, Guilding (FH-Tayl, lectotype; BM, isotype) .] 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Guiana, South America, Le 

Prieur (H, Nylander Herbarium 35653, lectotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Thahs closely adnate on bark, 

rather thick, 3-9 cm in diameter, whitish mineral 

gray; lobes linear, short, 0.5-2.0 mm wide; marginal 

bulbate cilia dense, conspicuously inflated, often 

apically ciliate ; upper surface plane to convex, continuous, moderately isidiate, the isidia simple or 

branched, up to 0.3 mm high; lower surface black, 

densely rhizinate, the rhizines richly branched. Apothecia adnate, 1-5 mm in diameter, the exciple 

coronate; spores 3-4 x 5-7p. 

FIGURE 19.-Parmelia laeuigatula, x 1 (Hale 35687). 

CHEMIsTw.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C + , KC + red, P- (lecanoric acid). 

ern United States, West Indies, and northern South 

America; on palms and hardwoods at lower elevations 

(sea level to 1,200 m) . Parmelia laevigatula is a typical lichen of dry scrub 

woodlands in Dominica. The thallus is whitish and 

the marginal bulbate cilia unmistakable under a hand 

lens. Related species that do not occur on Dominica 

include P. confoederata Culberson, a much smaller 

lichen without isidia in southeastern United States, 

and P. scortella Nylander, similar externally but with 

an olive greenish cast and gyrophoric acid. 

(35687) and 10 (35441). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-SOUtheaStSPECIMENS EXAMINED.-Hak COlleCtiOnS : 1 

13. Parmelia martinkana 

Parmelia martinicana Nylander, 1885, p. 609. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-MartiniqUe, Tardin (H, holoDEScRIPTIoN.-Thalhs adnate, 3-9 cm broad, pale 

tan mineral gray ; lobes irregular, subrotund, short, 

2-5 mm wide; upper surface becoming rugose toward 

the center, densely isidiate, isidia initially papillate, 

cylindrical to irregularly thickened, simple or 

branched, rarely turning granular at the tips; lower 

surface black and sparsely rhizinate at the center, 

rugose, brown, and naked in a narrow zone at the 

margin. Apothecia not seen. 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellowish (atranorin) ; 

type) * 
18 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

FIGURE 20.-Parmelia martinicana, x 1 (Hale 35761) 

medulla K-, C + , KC + rose, P + orange red 

(gyrophoric and protocetraric acids) . The presence 

of gyrophoric acid was first demonstrated by Dr. S. 

Kurokawa on material in US. I confirmed his crystal 

tests with TLC. This unsuspected combination of 

acids has recently been found in the P. caperata 

group (W. L. Culberson, in litt.). 

(Bermuda to Trinidad) ; on hardwoods in dry scrub 

woodland (sea level to 1,000 m) . This is one of the few conspicuous foliose lichens 

in the dry scrub woodland. The isidia are sometimes 

quite deformed with a tendency to become granular. 

Closely related P. raunkiaeri Vainio, another West 

Indian endemic, does have definitely pustular sorediate isidia and protocetraric acid but appears to 

lack gyrophoric acid. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-MOrne Couliabon, Elliott 

1538 pro parte (TUR) . Hale collections : 2 (35632), 

3 (35654), 4 (35660, 35662), 5 (35544), and 8 

(35761 ) . 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-weSt Indies 

14. Parmelia microblasta 

Parmelia microblasta Vainio, 1890, p. 57. 

P. caraccensis f. isidiosa Muller-Argau, 1891, p. 376. [Type 

collection: Mauritius, S.C. (K, holotype; G, isotype) .] 

P. revoluta f. isidiosa Miiller-Argau, 1891, p. 378. [Type 

collection: Brazil, Sowerby (G, holotype) .] 

P. propagulifera Vainio, 1899, p. (123). [Type collection: 

Bogota, Colombia, Weir 72 (K, holotype) .] 

P. kilauae Zahlbruckner in Rechinger, 1911, p. 30. [Type 

collection : Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, Rechinger 3383 

(W, holotype) .] 

P. jamaicensis Vainio, 1915, p. 23. [Type collection: Jamaica, Boergesen (TUR, Vainio Herbarium 2997, lectotype; C, isotype). Not P. jamaicensis (Acharius) Sprengel 

( =Usnea) .] 

P. endorosea Zahlbruckner, 1928, p. 203. [Type collection: 

Mt. Pangerango, Java, Schiflner 3304 (W, holotype) .] 

P. isidiata var. albula Gyelnik, 1930, p. 31. [Type collection: 

Oaula Island, Hawaii, Rock 103 (BP, holotype).] 

P. albula (Gyelnik) Gyelnik, 1931, p. 286. 

P. pseudoalbula Gyelnik, 1931, p. 286. [Type collection: 

Kauai, Hawaii, Kueche P-6 (BP, holotype; BPI, isotype) .] 

P. mauritiana Gyelnik, 1931, p. 288. [Based on P. caraccensis f. isidiosa MUller-Argau.] 

P. pseudorevoluta Gyelnik, 1931, p. 289. [Based on P. reuoluta f. isidiosa Muller-Argau.] 

P. honoluluana Gyelnik, 1934, p. 155. [Type collection: 

Honolulu, Hawaii, Faurie 443 (BP, holotype) .] 

P. subramigera var. primaria Gyelnik, 1934, p. 165. [Type 

collection: Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, Faurie 68 (BP, 

holotype; P, isotype) .] 

P. subramigera var. imbricata Gyelnik, 1934, p. 165. [Type 

collection: Kilauea, Hawaii, Faurie 857 (BP, holotype) .] 

P. kilauae var. honoluluana (Gyelnik) Gyelnik, 1935, p. 37. 

P. kilauae var. ramicola Gyelnik, 1935, p. 37. [Illegitimate 

P. abstrusa var. imbricata (Gyelnik) Gyelnik, 1938, p. 17. 

P. abstrusa var. subramigera (Gyelnik) Gyelnik, 1938, p. 

17. [Based on P. subramigera var. primaria Gyelnik.] 

P. neopropagulifera Gyelnik, 1938, p. 3C. [Based on P. 

profiagulifera Vainio.] 

P. endorubra f. imbricatiformis Gyelnik, 1938, p. 277. [Type 

collection: Bogota, Colombia, Apollinaire (BP, holoP. laxiuscula Magnusson, 1942, p. 8. [Type collection: Puu 

Kukui, Maui, Hawaii, Skottsberg 5919 (S, holotype) .I 

P. vestitula Zahlbruckner in Magnusson and Zahlbruckner, 

1944, p. 97. [Type collection: Kauai, Hawaii, Kueche 14 

(W, holotype; BPI, isotype) .] 

P. norstictica Hale, 1959, p. 128. [Based on P. jamaicensis 

Vainio.] 

Pseudeuernia mauritiana (Gyelnik) Dodge, 1959, p. 182. 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-Caraca, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 

Vainio, Lichenes Brasilienses Exsiccati 1214 (TUR, 

lectotype; BM, UPS, isotypes) . 

DEscRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate to loosely attached, 

5-10 cm in diameter, pale greenish yellow; lobes sublinear-elongate, 1-3 mm wide; upper surface plane, 

shiny, moderately to densely isidiate, the isidia tall, 

simple to coralloid-branched ; lower surface black, 

densely rhizinate, the rhizines dichotomously 

branched, usually forming a mat around the lobe 

name based on P. kilauae var. kilauae.] 

type) .I 
NUMBER 4 19 

margins. Apothecia 2-5 mm in diameter, adnate, 

spores 6-8 x 10-13u. 

present, atranorin absent) ; medulla K + yellow 

turning red, C-, KC-, P+ orange (norstictic 

acid, traces of salacinic acid, and an unknown forming a deep yellow HZSO, + spot below norstictic and 

above stictic acid). This unknown has also been 

found closely related nonisidiate P. enderythraea 

Zahlbruckner from South America. It cannot be 

crystallized in a G.A.0-T. solution, which was used to 

test types of the synonyms listed above, but was confirmed in the types of P. isidiata var. albula and P. 

endorosea with TLC. 

CHEMISTRY.-cOrteX K + yellowish (usnic acid 

FIGURE 2 1 .-Parmelia microblasta, x 1 (Hale 35450). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-PantrOpiCal 

in montane regions (but absent in Africa) ; on conifers and hardwoods at mid to high elevations (500- 

2,400 m). 

Parmelia microblasta is one of the commonest 

lichens in montane areas of the tropics, being especially well developed in Hawaii and the West 

Indies. The long list of synonyms is remarkable since 

the range of variation is very small. The species is 

characterized by a unique combination of isidia, the 

yellow color, branched rhizines, and norstictic acid. 

I collected P. microblasta in abundance at Giraudel 

on roadside trees but found it nowhere else on the 

island. 

(35450). 

SPECIMEN EXAMINED.-Hak COlleCtiOn : 20 

15. Parmelia mordenii Hale, new species 

Thallus adnatus, saxicola, lobis sorediatis, soraliis 

crassis, pro parte subfatiscentibus medulla K- ; 

apothecia ignota. 

Thallus adnate on lava, 4-6 cm broad, whitish 

mineral gray; lobes irregular, rotund, 5-8 mm wide; 

upper surface smooth to rugose, often transversely 

cracked with age, margin and in part surface of lobes 

sorediate, coarse to subfatiscent, soralia linear to 

orbicular; lower surface black and sparsely rhizinate 

except for a brown and naked zone around the 

margins, rhizines simple ; apothecia unknown. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Dominica : North of coulibistri, elevation about 30 m, collected by M. E. Hale, 

no. 35619; holotype in US, isotypes in BM and UPS. 

FIGURE 22.-Parmelia mordenii, x 1 (Hale 35649). 
20 SMITHS 0 N IA N CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K + yellow (atranorin), C-, KC-, P- or 

P + faint yellow (caperatic acid probably intermixed 

with protolichesterinic acid). The crystal tests with 

G.E. show typical branched-globular crystal masses of 

caperatic acid. 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-MeXiCO, 

West Indies (Dominica, St. Thomas, Grenada) ; on 

rocks in dry scrub woodland at lower elevations (sea 

level to 1,200 m) . 

Parmelia mordenii is characterized by a whitish 

mineral gray thallus growing adnate on rocks. The 

upper surface may become transversely cracked with 

age and rugose. The soralia are largely marginal, 

sometimes forming small subfatiscent coralloid structures as in P. fasciculata Lynge (see Hale 1965, p. 

252). A K + yellow medullary reaction (except that 

for stictic acid) is rather rare in Parmelia, since 

atranorin is normally a constituent of the cortex 

only. The broad, subirregular to sublinear rotund 

lobes and the naked zone below place the species in 

subgenus Amphigymnia section Amphigymnia. See 

discussion under P. dominicana regarding Vainio’s 

confusion of this species. 

The closest relative is the pantropical weed P. 

praesorediosa Nylander, which differs in these characters : corticolous habitat, generally smaller, shorter 

lobes, thinner greenish thallus, finer soredia often 

produced in linear crescent-shaped or labriform 

soralia without formation of subfatiscent structures, 

and the K- medullary reaction (although there 

may be a faint yellow color with K in a few specimens). The diagnostic acid, caperatic acid, is the 

same. 

Parmelia mordenii is found rather commonly on 

sheltered lava outcrops in the scrub woodland in 

Dominica, It occurs in a similar habitat in Mexico, 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-DOMINICA : Rodneys 

Rock, Hale 35540, 35807 (US). ST. THOMAS: 

Magensbay, Boergesen, and MaFolly, Biese (TUR) . MEXICO : CHIAPAS : west of Ococoautla, Hale 

20612 (US) ; VERACRUZ: Teocello Canyon, Hale 

21 142 (US), and 9 km each of Jalapa, Hale 19421 

(US). GRENADA: Fort George, Imshaug 16187 

(MSC, US). PUERTO RICO: Along 149, central 

mountains, Nash (US). 

16. Parmelia peralbida 

Parmelia peralbida Hale, 1965, p. 257. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Jamaica, Hart 124 (FH-Tayl, 

holotype; BM, isotype) . 

DEscmPTIoN.-Thallus loosely attached, 5-10 cm 

in diameter; lobes broad and rotund, 8-12 mm wide; 

upper surface plane, sparsely to moderately isidiate, 

the isidia thin, cylindrical; lower surface black, 

sparsely rhizinate toward the center, the outer margin 

naked and brown. Apothecia rare (not seen in 

Dominica), up to 4 mm in diameter; spores simple, 

5-7 X 8-1 Ou. 

FIGURE 23.-Parmelia peralbida, x 1 (Hale 35454). 

CHEMIsrw.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; medulla K-, C-, KC-, P+ orange red (protocetraric acid). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS :-Mexico, 

Honduras, and the West Indies; on hardwoods 

(mossy forest) at higher elevations (600-1,500 m). 

This rare lichen could be mistaken for P. tinctorurn 

Nylander, a lowland species with coarser subgranular 

isidia and different chemistry (P-, lecanoric acid). 

The collections from Dominica definitely establish P. 

peralbida as a high elevation rain forest or mossy 

forest lichen, thus ecologically as well as chemically 

distinct from P. tinctorum. 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-HPk collections : 20 

(35454) and 21 (35353). 
NUMBER 4 21 

17. Parrnelia praesorediosa 

Parmelia praesorediosa Nylander, 1891, p. 18. [For full 

synonymy see Hale 1965, p. 258.1 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-Singapore, Almquist (H, Nylander Herbarium 35547 ; S, isotype) . 

DEScRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate to loosely adnate 

on bark, 5-10 cm in diameter, light mineral gray to 

greenish gray; lobes 4-7 mm wide, subrotund; upper 

surface plane; margins of lobes sorediate (in part 

sublaminal) , soredia powdery in orbicular, linear, or 

typically crescent-shaped soralia, cilia lacking; lower 

surface black and sparsely rhizinate at the center, 

brown and naked in a narrow zone along the margins. 

Apothecia (not seen in Dominica) rare, 4-10 mm in 

diameter; spores 7-10 x 15-21u. 

L( 

FIGURE 24.-Parmelia praesorediosa, x 1 (Hale 35389) 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K- or K+ very faint yellowish, C-, 

KC-, P- (caperatic acid possibly with protolichesterinic acid intermixed). The G.E.-precipitated 

crystals are mostly globular. 

on palms and hardwoods at lower elevations (sea 

level to 1,200 m). 

This common lichen is usually collected on planted 

trees, palm, citrus, etc. It is quite variable although 

easily separated from other sorediate Amphigymnia 

species by the P- reaction. The thallus and lobes are 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-PantrOPiCal 

distinctly smaller than in P. cristifera Taylor or P. 

dilatata Vainio, two common P+ associates of P. 

praesorediosa. The relationship to the rock-inhabiting 

P. mordenii is discussed under that species. 

(35682), 2 (35700), and 9 (35389). Roseau Botanical Garden : Evans 50,51,60 (US). 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-HPle COlleCtiOnS : 1 

18. Parmelia pseudosinuosa 

Parmelia pseudosinuosa Asahina, 195 1, p. 329. 

P. anaptychioides Kurokawa in Hale and Kurokawa, 1964, 

p. 165. [Type collection: Pic0 Trujillo, Cordillera Central, 

Dominican Republic, Wetmore 36 17 (MSC, holotype; 

US, isotype) .] 

TYPE coLLEcTIoN.-shimohirano-mura, Prov. 

Shinano, Japan, Takahashi 99 (TNS, holotype) . DEscRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate, 3-9 cm in diameter, light mineral gray; lobes linear-elongate, 1-3 

mm wide; upper surface plane, sorediate, the soralia 

mainly subterminal, capitate, 1-2 mm in diameter; 

lower surface moderately rhizinate, the rhizines dichotomously branched. Apothecia rare (not seen in 

Dominica) ; spores 68 x 8-lop. 

FIGURE 25.-Parmelia pseudosinuosa, x 1 (type of 

P. anaptychioides) . 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; medulla K--, C-, KC- or KC + faint rose, P+ red 

(protocetraric acid). 

Chile, South and West Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Hawaii ; on trees (conifers or hardWORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-weSt Indies, 
22 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

woods) at mid to higher elevations (200-2,500 m) . This small, rather inconspicuous lichen was first 

described from Japan but appears to be pantropical 

in distribution, occurring in montane habitats. It is 

never abundant. The most important features are 

the subterminal soredia and the P+ red reaction 

caused by protocetraric acid. Parmelia rockii or P. 

laeuigata are superficially similar but in general have 

a larger thallus and a P- reaction. Reexamination 

of the type of P. anaptychioides showed that it is apparently a smaller form of P. pseudosinuosa and not 

a distinct species. 

(35458, 35488). 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-Hak COlkCtiOn : 20 

19. Parmelia rockii 

Parmelia rockii Zahlbruckner, 1912, p. 379. 

P. subbahiana Zahlbruckner in Magnusson, 1942, p. 8. 

[Type collection: Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii, Faurie 65 (W, 

lectotype; P, isotype) .] 

P. majuscula Zahlbruckner in Magnusson and Zahlbruckner, 

1944, p. 92. [Type collection: Kahaluamano, Kauai, Hawaii, Rock 174 (W, lectotype).] 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Kauai, Hawaii, Rock 7 (w, 

holotype; US, isotype). 

DESCRIPTION.-ThallUS adnate to loosely adnate, 

5-12 cm in diameter, whitish mineral gray; lobes sublinear-elongate, 1-6 mm wide; upper surface plane, 

shiny, maculate, pustulate, the pustules mostly subterminal, usually becoming coarsely sorediate ; medulla white except for pale yellow-orange spots under 

the soralia; lower surface black, densely rhizinate, the 

rhizines dichotomously branched. Apothecia rare (not 

seen in Dominica), adnate, 2-8 mm in diameter; 

spores 5-7 x 11-14u. 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C+, KC+ rose, P- (evernic acid 

and traces of lecanoric acid). 

ern United States (Virginia and North Carolina), 

West Indies, Mexico and Central America, northern 

South America, South Africa, southeast Asia, Hawaii; 

on rocks and trees at higher elevations (650 to 

2,500 m). 

Parmelia rockii is very common in the mountains 

of the tropics, especially in Hawaii and Central America, but has usually been misidentified. It is the pustulate-sorediate member of a chemically identical group 

that includes isidiate P. bogotensis Vainio and nonsorediate, nonisidiate P. pulvinata Fee. It is morphologically parallel to the P. laevigata group, which 

differs in containing the barbatic acid complex (see 

discussion under P. irnbricatula) . In Dominica, P. 

rockii behaves as a rain forest species but appears to 

be quite rare, although common elsewhere in the 

West Indies. 

(35586). 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-sOUtheaStSPECIMEN EXAMINED.-Hak COlleCtiOn : 15 

20. Parmelia subcrinita 

Parmelia subcrinita Nylander, 1890, p. 26. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-Japan : Hirosaki, Almquist 

(H, Nylander Herbarium 35479, neotype) . 

FIGURE 26.-Parmelia rockii, x 1 (Hale 35586). FIGURE 27.-Parmelia subcrinita, x 1 (Plitt from Jamaica). 
NUMBER 4 23 

DEsCRIPTION.-Thal~us loosely adnate, 10-20 cm 

in diameter, whitish mineral gray; upper surface 

plane, dull, reticulately cracked in older parts, becoming white-pruinose at the tips, isidiate, isidia cylindrical, up to 0.3 mm high, simple or branched; 

margins of lobes ciliate, cilia short, 1-2 mm long; 

lower surface black and sparsely rhizinate at the 

center, brown and naked in a broad zone at the margins. Apothecia rare, 3-6 mm in diameter; disc imperforate; spores 8-10 X 12-14p. 

medulla K+ yellow turning red, C-, KC-, P+ 

orange (salacinic acid). There may be unknown substances accompanying these acids but their identity is 

not clear. 

States, Mexico, Ce3tral and South America, West Indies, Azores, Japan, Indonesia, Sabah; on rocks but 

also on trees at lower to midelevations (sea level to 

2,000 m). 

This species was collected in Dominica only on 

rocks at Rodneys Rock. It has previously been confused with P. crinita Acharius, which contains stictic 

acid and is smaller and more fragile. There is intergradation with P. subisidiosa ( Muller-Argau) Dodge, 

which has rhizines more or less to the margin below, 

a strongly reticulately cracked cortex to the edge of 

the lobes, and more marginal or localized isidia. In 

some parts of its range P. subcrinita could be confused with P. subtinctoria Zahlbruckner, an isidiate 

species with shiny maculate cortex and a mostly 

brown lower surface with fine rhizines to the margin. 

appear in Weber, Lichenes Exsiccati). 

CHEMISTRY.-COrteX K + yellow (atranorin) ; 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-united 

SPECIMEN EXAMINED.-Hak collection : 35729 (to 

21. Parmelia subfatiscens 

Parmelia subfatiscens Kurokawa in Hale and Kurokawa, 

1964, p. 134. 

TYPE COLLECTION.-LOUIS Trichardt, Zoutpansberg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa, Almborn 

6443 (LD, holotype; US, isotype) . DEscRIPTIoN.-Thallus adnate on bark, 4-7 cm in 

diameter, greenish mineral gray; lobes sublinearelongate, 0.5-1.5 mm mide; marginal cilia distinct, 

to 1.0 mm long; upper surface plane, continuous, 

pustulate laminally and subterminally, pustules not 

turning noticeably sorediate ; lower surface black, 

densely rhizinate, the rhizines simple. Apothecia rare 

FIGURE 28.-Parmelia subfatiscens, x 1 (Hale 35121) 

(not seen in Dominica), adnate, 1.5-4.0 mm in diameter; spores 8-9 X 12-14u. 

CHEMIsTRY.-Cortex K + yellowish (atranorin) ; 

medulla K-, C-, KC + rose, P- (unknown substances). TLC analyses of the holotype of P. subfatiscens and the Dominican material are essentially 

identical in the major H2SO4+ spots. Two deep 

bluish spots appear in the benzene-dioxane solvent 

system, one above gyrophoric and the second near 

gyrophoric; in hexane-ether the main spot is near 

gyrophoric, the second below gyrophoric. The same 

components are known from P. horrescens Taylor, a 

closely related isidiate species. According to Dr. C. 

F. Culberson, one of these is related to or the same 

as glomelliferic acid. 

South Africa ; on hardwood trees at mid-elevations 

(600-2,OOO m) . Parmelia subfatiscens was first described from 

South African material. It was later identified in 

collections from Jamaica, following a distribution 

pattern known so far for P. exsplendens Hale and 

P. livida Taylor. The African type has scattered cilia 

among the pustules, but these are lacking in Dominica. This is a strictly rain forest lichen confined to 

the upper canopy of the trees and not easily collected 

except from felled trees. It belongs in section Imbricaria in the P. dissecta-P. horrescens group. 

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.-weSt Indies, 
24 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-HPk collections : 14 (35- 

558), 16 (35290, 35289, 35360), and 17 (35094, 

35108, 35121, 35144, 35145). 

22. Parmelia subramigera 

Parmelia subramigera Gyelnik, 1931, p. 281. [For full synonymy see Hale, 1964, p. 47 1 .] 

TYPE cOLLEcTIoN.-Rainbow Fall, Hawaii, Faurie 

856 (BP, holotype; BM, isotype) . DEScRIPTIoN.-Tha~lus adnate on rocks, 4-10 cm 

broad, greenish yellow; lobes linear-elongate, 2-3 mm 

wide ; upper surface moderately isidiate, the isidia 

cylindrical, simple ; lower surface pale brown, moderately rhizinate, the rhizines brown, simple. Apothecia rare (not seen in Dominica.) 

FIGURE 29.-Parmelia subramigera, x 1 (Hale 35778). 

CHEMIsrw.-Cortex K- (usnic acid) ; medulla 

K-, C-, KC-, P+ red (fumarprotocetraric acid 

and “sublimbatic” acid). TLC analyses have shown 

that “sublimbatic” acid is a constant accessory substance except in Japan where it is lacking. This 

unknown also occurs with fumarprotocetraric acid in 

other Xanthoparmeliae (P. hypomelaena Hale, P. 

subconspersa Nylander, and P. subfuscescens Nylander) and in subgenus Parmelia section Relicinae 

(P. ramossissima Kurokawa and P. sublimbata Nylander). It is recognized on TLC plates as a spot 

just below fumarprotocetraric in n-butanol-acetone. 

Parmelia subramigera is the commonest, sometimes 

the only member of subgenus Xanthoparmelia occurring in tropical regions. On the northern border 

of its range it intermingles with a series of chemical 

populations that share essentially the same morphology: P. plittii Gyelnik (containing stictic and norstictic ac.ids) , P. mexicana Gyelnik (salacinic acid), P. 

kurokawae Hale (psoromic acid), and P. dierythra 

Hale (norstictic acid). These are discussed in Hale, 

1964, p. 470. 

In Dominica, P. subramigera is rather common on 

lava rocks all along the west coast. There are not 

many herbarium specimens because the thallus is 

difficult to collect from the rocks. 

778). Rodneys Rock, Robinson s.n. (US). 

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.-HPk COlkCtiOn : 4 (35- 

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