Abstract

Nephroma occultum sp. nov. is described from material collected from treetops in Oregon. This species is in the N. cellulosum group but contains usnic acid. Notes on the chemistry of N. arcticum, N. antarcticum and N. australe are also given. In recent studies of the epiphytes of old conifers in western Oregon by Denison et al. (1972, 1975, 1977), a new species of Nephroma was found in the canopy of large douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). In these studies of 400-500-year-old trees, the above authors modified and adapted rock and mountain climbing techniques for access to the canopy 60-80 meters above the ground. Among the many lichens and bryo- phytes in the tops of the trees, this Nephroma was only found high up in old trees on moderate-sized branches and never lower on the trunks; thus, it remained hidden in the canopy and was only discovered by the use of innovative techniques developed for study- ing the ecosystem in tree tops.

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