Lepraria alpina

Lepraria alpina is a species of leprose lichen in the family Stereocaulaceae. It is found in Europe, North and South America, Antarctica, and Greenland, where it typically grows on rocks and rock-dwelling mosses in cool habitats.

Taxonomy

The species was first described as Crocynia alpina by Maurice Bouly de Lesdain in 1914, and was later transferred to the genus Lepraria by Mauro Tretiach and Loris Baruffo in 2006. The type specimen was collected in the United States and is now housed at Uppsala University Herbarium.

Description

This lichen forms a crust with edges that are usually clearly defined. Small, often obscure may be present, but these lack raised rims. The lichen has a usually present but inconspicuous white medulla. The base layer is sometimes present but poorly developed. The reproductive structures consist of abundant coarse granules, typically 100–150 μm in diameter, which sometimes have short projecting threads. These soredia often cluster into larger groups of 200–300 μm.
The species contains atranorin, porphyrilic acid, and a fatty acid. Very rarely, the fatty acids and/or atranorin may be absent. The expected results of standard chemical spot tests are K− or +, C−, KC− or +, Pd− or +.

Habitat and distribution

Lepraria alpina grows primarily on rock and saxicolous mosses, but can also be found on soil, lichens and rarely bark. It typically grows on acidic and can be found in both exposed and shaded places, mostly in cool climates. The species has been recorded from Europe, North and South America, Antarctica, and Greenland.