|
Niebla limicola
is most common on coastal mud or sand in the Southern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja
California, especially near Guerrero Negro.
In this region it appears to be the only terricolous lichen, recognized by the regular
appearance of short bifurcate branchlets arising along dilated-flattened
segments, and by having salazinic acid. Niebla arenaria is
similar in chemistry and habit, but differs by the linear-prismatic branches in
contrast to the dilated-flattened branches of N. limicola. Another
similar species, N. effusa (salazinic acid), has spreading fringed-like
branchlets
from dilated segments instead of the regular bifurcate branching. Branches of
N. limicola are generally more strongly twisted in comparison to those of
related salazinic-acid species.
Niebla brachyura, a
relatively rare species in the southern region of the Vizcaíno Desert and on
Isla Cedros, is sometimes similar in the bifurcate branching; however, it is
easily distinguished by having hypoprotocetraric acid instead of salazinic acid.
The geographic occurrence of
N. limicola on the northern peninsula of Baja California (Norte) is
more spotty in contrast to that of related species. As the epithet
implies, the thalli are mostly found on alkali silt or mud where there is little
other vegetation, including lichens as may be seen in Cañón San Vicente—between El
Rosario and Punta Antonio—south of Punta Baja. It is found as far north as Bahía de San Quintín.
|
