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.

Cerro Solo, Spjut & Marin 9047J, Apr 1985

SW of El Rosario,
Spjut 10281A, Mar 1988

Punta Canoas,
Spjut 11297, Apr 1990

Bahía de San Quintín, BCN
rocks along beach,
Spjut 9328, May 1986,

Just W of San Andrés Ranch,
N-facing steep rocky cliffs,
Spjut 9889B, May 1986

Ridge S of El Marrón,
Spjut 9961
May 1986

Mesa above Punta Baja,
Spjut 10258, Mar 1988

Ridge above Punta Rocosa,
Spjut 10349, Mar 1988

 Punta Blanca,
Spjut & Marin 11455
Apr 1990

Ridge above Punta Rocosa,
Spjut 10345, Mar 1988

Puerta Catarina, Spjut 13103,
Apr 1994

Bahía Santa María,
Spjut & Marin 11572
Apr 1990

Mesa above San Antonio
del Mar,
Spjut 11178, Apr 1990

Illustration of TLC Data
for Niebla spp.

Geographical Distribution

     Unlike related species that may form single dominant Niebla communities, N. josecuervoi is usually part of a mixed  Niebla community.  In its northern range, such as in the coastal chaparral region between San Quintín and San Vicente, it occurs  on rocks with N. fimbriata (sekikaic acid) and N. effusa (salazinic acid).  Around Bahía de San Quintín it is commonly associated with N. homalea, N. eburnea (divaricatic acid) and N. juncosa var. spinulifera (divaricatic acid).  In the desert transition zone, southwest of El Rosario, terricolous forms develop on lava mesas in association with N. effusa, N. arenaria (salazinic acid), and N. juncosa var. spinulifera.  In the Northern Vizcaíno Desert, it is saxicolous, primarily with N. turgida (divaricatic acid) such as on Mesa Santa Catarina, or with numerous species on Mesa Camacho and coastal slopes and ridges further south to Punta Rocosa.  It also occurs with N. flabellata (salazinic acid) on rocks along beaches, especially south of Punta Prieta. 

     South of Punta Rocosa, N. josecuervoi is replaced by N. marinii (salazinic acid) where at Morro Santo Domingo N. marinii is the dominant Niebla.  Both species were named after field assistants, José Cuervo and Richard Marin.

     Niebla josecuervoi is distinguished by having salazinic acid and by producing numerous fragmentation branchlets, pectinately arranged along a main basal branch.   Apothecia usually develop on the spinuliferous branchlets, and most thalli bear  apothecia (>90%, Spjut 1996).  This is in contrast to the terricolous N. effusa (salazinic acid) with less frequent apothecia (~66%, Spjut 1996) and fragmentation branchlets more limited in development to apical dilated segments.  Another related salazinic-acid species, N. arenaria, has relatively short bifurcate spine-like branchlets, and is rarely found with apothecia. 

     Niebla josescuervoi is morphologically most similar to N. fimbriata (sekikaic acid), N. turgida (divaricatic acid), and N. juncosa (divaricatic acid).    The simplest solution to their identification is to use thin-layer chromotagaphy (TLC).  Identifying the key lichen substances helps eliminate many of the species in question, and also may identify other rare species such as N. pulchribarbara (protocetraric acid).  Other salazinic acid species such as N. marinii and N. angulata (Spjut ined.) are identified by the lack of fragmentation branchlets; their basal branches mostly divide dichotomously into equal branch segments.  One other salazinic-acid species, N. flabellata, differs by having more flattened thallus segments; its thalli are generally characterized by small tufts of basal branches that become dilated with irregular lacerations.