Heterodermia sitchensis

Heterodermia sitchensis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Caliciales
Family:	Physciaceae
Genus:	Heterodermia
Species:	H. sitchensis
Binomial name
Heterodermia sitchensis Goward & W.J.Noble (1985)

Heterodermia sitchensis is a species of foliose lichen, ^[1] first described by Trevor Goward and Wila Noble in 1985. ^[2] The name sitchensis, meaning "from Sitka", reflects its exclusive dependence on Sitka spruce twigs, since it is found on no other tree species. ^[3]

Range

This lichen is known from highly specific areas of coastal British Columbia and Oregon. In B.C., it occurs only on the outer side of Vancouver Island stretching from Pacific Rim National Park northward just over 200km. ^[3] In Oregon, there are two individual spots known, one in an old-growth Hemlock forest, and one amongst Sitka spruce and Shore Pines in a dune environment. ^[4]

Habitat

Within its range, it inhabits only old Sitka spruce that are directly at the seaside, on small-diameter twigs. It seems to particularly benefit from nitrogen-enriched sites such as sea lion haul-outs and bird nest sites. ^[3]

References

1. "Heterodermia sitchensis (Seaside Centipede Lichen)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
2. Trevor Goward (1984). "Heterodermia sitchensis, a New Lichen from the Pacific Northwest of North America". The Bryologist . 87 (4): 366. doi:10.2307/3242965. ISSN   0007-2745. JSTOR   3242965. Wikidata   Q99873004.
3. "COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Seaside Centipede Lichen Heterodermia sitchensis in Canada" (PDF). COSEWIC. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
4. Gayle McHenry; Tor Tønsberg (2002). "Heterodermia sitchensis found in Oregon, U.S.A." Evansia . 19 (4): 158–160. doi:10.5962/P.346559. ISSN   0747-9859. Wikidata   Q115776074.