Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi of Grand Marais

 I spent most of the day out looking for lichen in and around Grand Marais. There were a few things that I observed earlier in the year that I was curious how distributed they are in the area, today seemed like a good day for an adventure up north. 

The first and most interesting stop was of course at Artists' Point. It is a tied island connected to the mainland by a tombolo. This is quite a unique feature along the shoreline, the only other example that I've noticed is at Sugarloaf Cove. Both places are small islands by most standards, but they are quite large when compared to other islands along Superior's North Shore. Both places house some extremely rare plants and lichens. They also provide an absolutely breathtaking view of Superior. Sadly, these locations (especially Artists' Point) are favorites of tourists and these rare communities get quite trampled. Historically, there was a population of the endangered Scottish asphodel (Tofieldia pusilla) at this location. Sam Guida last observed this population in 2021 and has been unable to find it since then. I haven't looked for it at this site, but it is presumed to be extirpated. This species is very very small, maybe there is still one or two plants eking out a living here. How long will some of these other rare species hang on before also succumbing to human disturbance?

Scottish asphodel (Tofieldia pusilla) observed earlier this fall further south on the shore

My main objective was to find Arthrorhaphis grisea (or maybe it's Sclerococcum athallinum), a lichenicolous fungi that I saw earlier this year growing on brown berret lichen (Baeomyces rufus). Last time I only saw it on one small patch of the lichen growing on a shaded boulder. This time I saw it growing in a few places. To my knowledge you need to observe spores under a microscope to be able to differentiate the two species. I hope that someone will do that at some point for this population. Both species appear to have a pretty limited range in North America (or have yet to be observed in places where they occur), either way its a cool find. Other interesting observations included Abrothallus peyritschii and Pisutiella grimmiae. I also saw wooden soldiers lichen (Cladonia botrytes) for the first time. It looks very  similar to the more common (and was even growing right next to) British soldiers lichen (Cladonia cristatella). Wooden soldiers has a pale whiteish apothecia, whereas British soldiers has a striking red one. A little bit further down the shore I also saw Punctelia stictica and Illosporiopsis christiansenii. It's amazing all the rare, interesting things you can see if you just slow down and focus enough to notice them. Of course being in an extremely unique place helps as well. 

Arthrorhaphis grisea or Sclerococcum athallinum on brown beret lichen (Baeomyces rufus)

Abrothallus peyritschii on powdered sunshine lichen (Vulpicida pinastri)

Wooden soldiers lichen (Cladonia botrytes)

Illosporiopsis christiansenii on a lichen species

Pisutiella grimmiae on common goldspeck lichen (Candelariella vitellina)

Punctelia stictica, a state endangered lichen

I also did some hiking and exploring inland a little ways. Another species I was really excited to see was Zythia resinae, as the name suggests this is a lichen which grows on resins of conifers. I've been hoping to see it for a while, and today was the day. I assume this one is probably super common in the state, it can grow on spruces and pines, and maybe some other confers as well. I saw quite a few on a spruce, interestingly this one looked very much like a Norway spruce. There were quite a few similar trees all of the same age. However, that species should not be here. It is a nonnative usually restricted to urban plantings, this was in the middle of a national forest, who knows maybe the forest service planted some of them a long time ago as a reforestation project, I'll have to do some more research. There were also some calicioid lichens growing on the red pines here that I was unable to identify. They were pretty short and stubby. 

An unknown calicioid lichen species on red pine (Pinus resinosa)

Tremella everniae galls on boreal oakmoss (Evernia mesomorpha)

Zythia Resinae growing on resin of a spruce, maybe a Norway spruce (Picea abies?)

Overall, it was a great day for lichen and lichenicolous fungi observing!