Lobaria quercizans

Lobaria quercizans or Ricasolia quercizans, commonly known as the smooth lungwort, is a macrolichen in the family Peltigeraceae. It forms large, smooth, grey growths that often have abundant red-brown apothecia.

Distribution

Most records are from eastern North America but there are also isolated probable location records from South America, eastern Asia. In eastern North America, it is found from Newfoundland to northern Georgia and west to eastern Minnesota. An outlying population is found in the Ouachita Mountains.

Ecology

In eastern North America, L. quercizans is found primarily on the bark of deciduous trees, usually maples. In the southern parts of its range A. saccharum is preferred. Further north, where there is less A. saccharum, A. rubrum is favoured.

Uses

The lichen is used for food and medicine by the Menomini people of Wisconsin.