Niebla turgida

The World Botanical Associates Web Page
Prepared by Richard W. Spjut
April 2003, Oct. 2005, Aug 2005, Sep 2012

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 lichen that is endemic to the Northern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja California.  It is common from Mesa Santa Catarina south to Punta Rocosa, often colonial on large rock surfaces, but also frequent on pebbles.  It is perhaps most abundant on slopes leading up to Mesa Santa Catarina.

     Niebla turgida is identified by the lichen substance divaricatic acid and by its bushy growth form, generally with >20 basal branches that become increasingly rougher and long tapered towards apex; the rough part is due to the closely connected reticulate cortical ridges.  The species has the general aspect of N. juncosa that differs by the smooth cortex on the upper branchlets, and by having well-defined branch margins. 

     At least two morphs of Niebla turgida can be recognized.  The typical one has inflated tubular branches that narrow above the swollen portion. It is much like N. podetiaforma, which is distinguished not only by its fewer basal branches but also by the less conspicuous pycnidia and shorter blunt-tipped branchlets. The other has flattened branches with dilated segments similar to N. caespitosa, which differs by the smaller flattened thallus with mostly lacerated branches.

      Other similar species include N. josecuervoi and  N. suffnessii, distinguished by their chemistry of salazinic acid and sekikaic acid, respectively, while other differences are discussed under other species.