Niebla flagelliforma

©The World Botanical Associates Web Page
Prepared by Richard W. Spjut
April 2003, Oct. 2005

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.

 

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San José Ranch between
Punta Canoas and Punta Blanca, Spjut & Marin 11409, Apr 1990

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Punta Canoas, Spjut 11240, Apr 1990

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San José Ranch between
Punta Canoas and Punta
Blanca, Spjut & Marin 11401,
Apr 1990

Mesa Camacho, between
Puerta Catarina and Punta
 Canoas, Spjut & Marin 13065, Apr 1994

Mesa Camacho, between Puerta Catarina and Punta Canoas, Spjut & Marin 13104, Apr 1994

Mesa Camacho, between
Puerta Catarina and Punta
 Canoas, Spjut & Marin 13105,
Apr 1994

Hwy 1 N of Rosarito,
~6 mi S of Punta Prieta
Spjut & Marin 9058A
May 1985

Bahía Santa María,
Spjut & Marin 11383
Apr 1990

Arroyo Sauces, just south of Punta Cuchillo, between Punta Blanca and Punta Canoas
Spjut & Marin 11445, Apr 1990

     Niebla flagelliforma is recognized by having divaricatic acid and flagelliform branchlets without the additional cortical layer (“epicortex”) seen in N. homalea.  The cortex is usually dull and conspicuously reticulate, often with transverse ridges that develop cracks with age.  The reticulate ridging is similar to that of N. testudinaria, except that the cortex of N. flagelliforma is thinner (< 75µm thick) and more closely reticulated, and this probably accounts for its more contortion in its branchlets.  A specimen collected by Palmer reportedly from San Diego differs by a having a dimpled cortex of more uniform thickness; it was included  because of its narrow subterete branches and relatively thin cortex.  A few specimens of N. testudinaria collected by Bratt from the Channel Islands resemble N. flagelliforma by the narrow branches with prominent reticulate ridging, but were treated under N. testudinaria because of the thicker cortex (> 75µm thick).  Apothecia are usually present (>90%, Spjut 1996), and are frequently seen near apex of branchlets as appearing to have aborted development.  Niebla flagelliforma was noted to be especially common on rocks of steep slopes east of BCN Hwy. 1 near junction with road to El Tomatal; Spjut & Marin 9058 represents a voucher for a 100 g sample collected for antitumor screening from this area.