Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae)
from California and Baja California.
Spjut, R.W., 1996. ISSN 0833-1475, 208 pp.  
Sida, Botanical Miscellany 14.
Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Inc.

Punta Baja, Spjut 10278,
Mar 1988, Salazinic acid
(TLC Apr 1988)

Bahía de San Quintín,
Spjut, Cassady & McCloud 9327,
May 1986, Salazinic acid
(TLC Nov 1987), isotype

Punta Canoas, Spjut & Marin 11300, Apr 1990, Salazinic acid (TLC Dec 1990).  Growing abundantly on sand.

Punta Canoas, Spjut & Marin 11324, Apr 1990, Salazinic acid (TLC Dec 1992)

Punta Canoas
Spjut & Marin 13017, Apr 1994

Bahía de San Quintín,
Spjut 10241, Mar 1988

Mesa above Punta Rocosa,
Spjut 10365, Mar 1988

Rancho San José between
Puntas Canoas and Blanca, Apr 1990
Spjut & Marin 11395

Mesa southwest of El Rosario,
Spjut 10267, Mar 1988

Near Punta Baja,
Spjut 10272, Mar 1988

Illustration of TLC data showing salazinic acid among other chemotypes of Niebla.

Geographical Distribution

     Niebla arenaria is common on coastal sandy substrates in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja California.  At some localities it appears to constitute a single dominant Niebla community. In mixed Niebla communities, it occurs most often with N. effusa and N. juncosa such as seen above Punta Baja southwest of El Rosario on rocky soils. 

     Niebla arenaria is easily recognized by its terricolous habit with apical, shortly bifurcate, sharply pointed branchlets, and by the presence of the lichen metabolite salazinic acid.  Niebla limicola is similar in chemistry and habit, but differs by the dilated branches that are more flattened out, especially near base of thallus; it is more common on the Vizcaíno Peninsula.  Niebla brachyura, a relatively rare species in the southern region of the Vizcaíno Desert, and on Isla Cedros, is sometimes similar in bifurcate branching, but is distinguished by having hypoprotocetraric acid.  .

     The geographical occurrences shown on the map of Baja California are represented by more than 100 specimens, all of which were analyzed by TLC.  The type collection (Spjut, Cassady & McCloud 9327, holotype at US) from Bahía Falsa near San Quintín) included perhaps another 100 thalli that were extracted and tested for anticancer activity.  In addition to isotypes distributed to institutions in Baja California (BCMEX)  and California (LA), others were later submitted to the lichen exchange in Arizona (ASU).