Niebla turgida

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.

 


turgida-11256.jpg (137809 bytes)

Mesa Camacho,
Spjut 11256, Apr 1990

turgida-11388.jpg (129338 bytes)

San José Ranch between Punta Canoas and Punta Blanca, Spjut & Marin 11388, Apr 1990

turgida-13088.jpg (80873 bytes)

Mesa Camacho,
Spjut & Marin 13088,
Apr 1994


turgida-13100.jpg (190745 bytes)

Mesa Camacho,
Spjut & Marin 13100,
Apr 1994

turgida-10380.jpg (176068 bytes)

Between Punta Rocosa
and Punta Prieta, Spjut 10380, Mar 1988

turgida-11280.jpg (91361 bytes)

Mesa Camacho,
Spjut 11280, Apr 1990

Near Punta Rocosa,
Spjut 10382, type, Mar 1988


Near Punta Rocosa,
type locality, Spjut 10380


Mesa Santa Catarina, Spjut &
Marin 13024, Apr 1994

Mesa Santa Catarina, Spjut &
Marin 13030, Apr 1994


Between Punta Rocosa
and Punta Prieta, Spjut 10385, Mar 1988

Between Punta Rocosa
and Punta Prieta,
 Spjut 10365, Mar 1988

 

     Niebla turgida is a bushy divaricatic species that is common from Mesa Santa Catarina south to Punta Rocosa, often seen as colonial on large rock surfaces, but also  frequently found on pebbles.  It is perhaps most abundant on slopes leading up to Mesa Santa Catarina.

     Niebla turgida has a general aspect of N. juncosa, but the branches lack well-defined margins as seen in that species.  Some thalli with strongly flattened segments resemble N. caespitosa (e.g. Spjut & Marin 13100), while others with inflated basal branches resemble N. podetiaforma (e.g., Spjut 10385). These related species differ in having smaller tufts of branches.  The strong yellowish color of N. turgida seems to occur in all specimens unlike other species that vary in color, although N. caespitosa tends to be blackish green.  Nevertheless, Niebla podetiaforma can be difficult to separate from N. turgida.  The thallus of N. turgida is not only larger but the upper branches are long tapered, or long linear, and are frequently more sharply prismatic or angled at the margins.  Other similar species include N. josecuervoi that differs by having salazinic acid, and N. suffnessii that is distinguished by having sekikaic acid.