Nephroma key
Key modified from James & White (2009). | ||
1. | Photobiont cyanobacteria; fresh thalli ± blue-black when wet, brown when dry | 2. |
Photobiont green algae; fresh thalli yellow-green when wet, straw coloured when dry; with immersed cephalodia containing cyanobacteria [rare, only northern Scottish Highlands] | Nephroma arcticum | |
2. | Soredia absent; apothecia usually frequent or thallus with numerous folioles | 3. |
Soredia present; apothecia rare; folioles absent | Nephroma parile | |
3. | Lower surface of thallus smooth; medulla yellow or pale yellow, K+ purple (rarely white and K–) | 4. |
Lower surface of thallus pubescent or tomentose; medulla white, K– [both species probably extinct in GB&I] | 5. | |
4. | Folioles absent; commonly fertile | Nephroma laevigatum |
Folioles present, usually copious; rarely fertile | Nephroma tangeriense | |
5. | Lower surface of thallus distinctly tomentose, with scattered pale raised papillae; thalline exciple entire | Nephroma resupinatum |
Lower surface densely pubescent, without papillae; thalline exciple and supporting lobe scalloped | Nephroma helveticum |