Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Physcia phaea is a grayish rosette-forming lichen with long, narrow lobes. There are no isidia or soredia. The adaxial surface of the thalus is densely covered in maculae. The undersurface is smooth and there are white to black rhizines. The upper cortex is yellow in KOH. There are 8 spores per ascus that are septate, 15-25 microns in length, and brown to black pigmented. Physcia phaea is found on granitic rock.

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Physcia phaea, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, macro of rosette with apothecia, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, photomicrograph of apothecium, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, photomicrograph of undersurface of thallus with rhizines, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, photomicrograph of upper surface of thallus with dense maculae, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, photomicrograph of pigmented septate ascospore, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026

Physcia phaea, photomicrograph of yellow color change of upper cortex in KOH, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Grant County, Gila National Forest, Pinos Altos Range, McMillan Cmpgd trail growing on a granitic outcrop, March 1, 2026