General:
Common Name: The Shadow Lichens. Alludes to the dark colour of the upper surface of most species. Small to medium stratified foliose lichens, corticate above and below, isidiate or sorediate or not, lobes closely appressed to semi-erect, elongate-linear to elongate (rarely short), averaging to 0.2–1.5 (–3) mm wide, thin. Upper surface usually brownish, K- (atranorin absent), dull, lacking pruina and white-spotting. Lower surface dark brown to black, occasionally pale, bearing scattered, short, simple rhizines. Medulla white (ours). Photobiont green.
Apothecia located over upper surface, averaging to 1–2.5 mm across, rim occasionally bearing short colourless hairs, disc dark; spores 2-celled, ellipsoid to spindle-shaped, brown, 8 per ascus.
Over rock, bark, moss and other substrates.
Notes: Of the 19 species of Phaeophyscia reported for North America, ten are known to occur in B.C. Phaeophyscia was formerly treated within Physcia.

Species description:
Lobes averaging to less than 1.5 mm wide; upper surface convex to rarely concave at lobe tips; rhizines projecting or not; distribution and status various AND
Thallus lacking soredia and isidia; apothecia present or absent AND
Lobes mostly appressed; lower surface black toward thallus centre; apothecia often present AND
Lobes averaging to more than 0.6 mm wide; over bark (rare over mossy rock)

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:
Physcia ciliata (Hoffm.) Du Rietz
Physcia obscura auct.