A Contribution to the Lichen Flora of Arizona and New Mexico

Abstract

The lichen flora of the states of Arizona and New Mexico is much less known than that of many other sections of the United States. In addition to the references on distribution given in the standard works of Tuckerman (1882, 1888) and Fink (1935), there are only scattered papers in the literature which are concerned with the lichens of these states. Tuckerman, in 1860 and 1862, reported on the collections made by Fendler near Santa Fe. When these records were brought together in 1866, several collections made by Wright in New Mexico were added. Tuckerman (1878) also wrote up some Arizona collections made by the U. S. Geological Survey of the 100th Meridian. It was not until some time later that Fink (1909, 1909a) studied the lichens of the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona, from where some new species were described by Zahlbruckner (1908, '09). In 1932 Bouly de Lesdain published an account of lichen collections from the vicinity of Las Vegas, New Mexico, made by Brother Arsene Brouard, and, in 1942, on further collections from the vicinity of Santa Fe. Magnusson (1929, 1937) treated the Acarospora of Brother Arsene Brouard. Herre (1944, 1950) has provided additional information on the lichen flora of New Mexico from San Miguel and Sierra counties. Finally, Darrow (1950) has reported on the arboreal lichen flora of southeastern Arizona. The present paper includes forms from some new localities in Arizona and New Mexico of which three are new species and a number are additions to the flora. This compilation is the result of a study of two collections: (1) that of Dr. Robert A. Darrow made in various localities in southeastern Arizona in 1933and 1934, and in the 1940's which includes only saxicolous and terricolous forms; (2) that made by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Elmore at Chaco Canyon National Monument in northwestern New Mexico in 1952. The latter is for the most part saxicolous, but a few corticolous forms are included. Thus most of these lichens are crustaceous rock-inhabiting ones which form a conspicuous element in the vegetation of these arid mountainous regions.