Sample #15, Lepraria lobificans,Lichen 

Name: Lepraria lobificans

Common Name: Dust Lichen

Family: Stereocaulaceae

Collection Date: October 16, 2016
Location: Camp Asbury

Habitat:  Found growing on a living tree, area was out of reach of much sunlight.

Description:  Has a crustose thallose, dusty when moved. Sample has a white, powdery top, with a green thallose.  The thallose is very thick, and is difficult to remove from the substrate it is growing on. 

Figure 1: Lepraria lobificans sample.

Figure 2: Close up the green thallose and the white powder over top of the organism. 

Keying Steps: 

The organism was sent out for DNA testing. A sequence was reported back. BLAST was used to find a match to the DNA sequence that was received back.  The top match is reported below: 

BLAST Program Selection : Highly similar

1.  Genus/species Lepraria lobificans
1. E-value  1e-15
2. % Identity 89%