General:
Common Name: The Tarpaper Lichen. Emphasizes the typically dark upper surface, as well as the unstratified thallus, in which a pale medulla is lacking.
A small to medium nonstratified foliose lichen (gelatinous when wet), corticate above and below, isidiate, lobes loosely attached, 3–5 mm wide, thick. Upper surface blackish brown, dull, bearing minute white hairs on margins. Lower surface dark, white-tomentose, rhizines absent. Medulla absent. Photobiont blue-green.
Apothecia located over upper surface, disc orangish brown; spores 2-celled, ellipsoid to pointed-ellipsoid, colourless, 8 per ascus.
Over mossy soil.
Notes: Leptochidium is a monotypic genus. For points of distinction with similar lichens, see the descriptions under Collema.

Species description:
Thallus small to medium but not minute; lobes averaging to more than 1.5 mm wide, always dorsiventral; isidia present or absent, distinctly wrinkled upper surface AND
Lobe margins and/or isidia bearing minute, erect white hairs

Reactions:
All spot tests negative

Contents:
No lichen substances reported.

Source:  Lichens of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration By:  Trevor Goward

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Leptogium albociliatum Desmaz.
Leptogium pilosellum G. Merr.
Polychidium albociliatum