Thallus foliose, loosely appressed, free at the edges, to 20(40) cm broad; lobes mostly 1-3 cm broad; upper surface light or dark brown, with a network of ridges; lower surface covered with light brown tomentum with scattered white spots (pseudocyphellae); photobiont blue-green; soralia roundish to irregular, white, gray, or blue-gray, mainly on the ridges; apothecia brown, uncommon; and medulla white
(McCune and Geiser 2009). Chemistry: Cortex K-; Medulla K+ yellow, P+ orange, or spot tests negative
(McCune and Geiser 2009).
Montana has six
Lobaria species, of which all but one is categized as a state Species of Concern. They are distinguished by the following characteristics:
Lobaria anomala - Netted Lungwort, SOC
* Growth Form: Large foliose.
* Upper Surface: Light or dark brown (dry) with a network of ridges.
* Reproduction: White, gray, or blue-gray soredia on ridges of upper surface.
* Photobiont: Cyanobacterial.
* Lower Surface: Coarsely mottled in color. Light brown tomentum with scattered small, white spots (pseudocyphellae).
* Chemistry: Cortex K-. Medulla K- or K+ yellow.
Lobaria amplissima - Large Lungwort, SOC
* Growth Form: Minutely fruticose and erect. Tiny.
* Upper Surface: Creamy tan to pale grayish tan (dry). Smooth to irregularly wrinkled.
* Reproduction: Lacking apothecia and soredia.
* Photobiont: Cyanobacterial.
* Lower Surface: Coarsely mottled in color. No small, white spots (pseudocyphellae).
Lobaria hallii - Gray Lungwort, SOC
* Growth Form: Large foliose.
* Upper Surface: Steel Gray - gray to brownish gray (dry). Rough and scabrous with often sparse tiny
and fine hairs (tomentum) – use strong hand-lens to examine towards lobe tips.
* Reproduction: Soredia occur in roundish soralia on surface and margins. Apothecia uncommon.
* Photobiont: Cyanobacterial.
* Lower Surface: Pale brown or whitish tomentum.
* Chemistry: Medulla K-
* Note: Closest look-alike to
L. scrobiculata, especially when wet.
Lobaria linita - Cabbage Lungwort, SOC
* Growth Form: Large foliose.
* Upper Surface: greenish to brownish or brownish gray
* Reproduction: Lacking soredia, isidia, or lobules. Apothecia common.
* Photobiont: Green algal. Internal cephalodia with cyanobacteria.
* Lower Surface: Tomentum light-colored with pale bare swellings. Black veins.
* Chemistry: Medulla K-
Lobaria pulmonaria - Lungwort
* Growth Form: Large foliose.
* Upper Surface: pale greenish to olive or brownish (dry). Strongly and coarsely reticulate-ridged.
* Photobiont: Green algal. Internal cephalodia with cyanobacteria.
* Lower Surface: Light-colored, tomentose with bare swellings.
* Reproduction: Sorediate and/or isidiate. Lobules sometimes present on older individuals. Apothecia uncommon.
* Chemistry: Medulla K+ yellow to orange, KC-
Lobaria scrobiculata - Textured Lungwort, SOC
* Growth Form: Large foliose.
* Upper Surface: Yellowish-tinged pale green to olive (dry). Weakly reticulate-ridged or undulating
* Reproduction: Sorediate. Apothecia rare.
* Photobiont: Cyanobacterial. No internal cephalodia.
* Lower Surface: Coarsely mottled in color. Densely tomentose with bare patches and lacking small, white spots (pseudocyphellae).
* Chemistry: Medulla K+ yellow to orange, KC+ red
* Note: Closest look-alike to
L. hallii, especially when wet.
Generally on deciduous trees and shrubs; occasionally on coniferous trees; rarely on rock.
Photobionts: green algae and cyanobacteria (nitrogen fixer).
Reproduces asexually by soredia.
None identified.
