Collector Name: Keith F. Saylor
Email: kfsaylor@gmail.comSpecies Name: Evernia prunastri
Date Collected: May 26, 2013
State: Michigan
County: Mackinac
Township: Moran Township
Location: Gros Cap Cemetery
Habitat: Human Altered, Cemetery, Ridge along Lake Michigan
Substrate: Bark - Trunk
Host Species: Black Spruce - 80% dead
Height above ground: 3 feet and below from ground
Aspect: North | |||
| Evernia Prunastri |
Evernia prunastri is commonly found throughout Europe and western United States. It has been documented in the United States midwest, however, it is rare in the midwest.
Lichens of North America on pages 312-313, discussing the abundance of E. prunastri in the Great Lakes region, reads:
"Some very old herbarium species exist from scattered localites in Ontario close to the Great Lakes but the species is almost certainly extinct in that area."
Records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility show one documented occurrence in Michigan by H.A. Imshaug on August 28, 1961 on the southern end of Beaver Island.
Dr. Alan Fryday (Michigan State University Herbarium Curator) shared in an email about the status of E. prunastri in Michigan:
In MSC we have 26 Michigan collections of E. prunastri from 11 counties (Charlevoix, Chippewa, Crawford, Emmet, Keweenaw, Lake, Leelanau, Mackinac, Otsego, Presque Isle & Roscommon). Although the most recent of these collections was made in 1976.
View Evernia Prunastri in Michigan in a larger map
Dr. Fryday also suggested in the same email that, while this lichen is rare in the midwest, the records may under-represent actual abundance.
On May 19th, 2013, I observed Evernia prunastri thallus on spruce trees in the Gros Cap Cemetery west of St. Ignace, Michigan.
These individuals were on dead or dying spruce trees in the cemetery. One specimen was collected and sent to Michigan State University. The collections were made because the dead or dying host trees were within the boundaries of the cemetery representing a hazard to visitors and would soon be cut down.
This image is particularly compelling; it shows Evernia mesomorpha (on the lower left) next to Evernia prunastri just above and to the right. It is not common to see these forms together in most parts of the world.
Documentation:
Location: Gros Cap Cemetery
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| Overhead |
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| Photo Point One |
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| Host Tree Specimens 1 -3 |
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| Host Tree: Specimens 4 and 5 |
Specimen Images:
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| Specimen One: Michigan State University Herbarium |
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| Specimen One: Michigan State University Herbarium |
Specimen One: Michigan State University Herbarium
Specimen Two: Private Collection
Specimen Two: Private Collection
Specimen Three: Left on Location
Specimen Three: Left on Location
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| Specimen Four - Private Collection |
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| Specimen Four - Private Collection |
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| Specimen Five - Private Collection |
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| Physcia adscends |
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| Ramalina |
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| Evernia mesomorpha |
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| Anaptychia setifera |
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| Physconia detersa |
