''Gowardia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of medium-sized, greyish hair

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...

s in the family

Parmeliaceae The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 82 ...

. It is a circumpolar genus, mainly restricted to arctic-alpine habitats in northern Canada, Europe, and Russia.Halonen, P. L. Myllys, S. Velmala, & H. Hyvärinen. 2009. ''Gowardia'' (Parmeliaceae)-a new alectorioid lichen genus with two species. The Bryologist 112(1): 138–146.

Taxonomy and naming

''Gowardia'' was previously included within the genus '' Alectoria'', but is now differentiated from this genus on the basis of its chemistry and colour, as well as by

molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

. ''Gowardia'' was named after

Trevor Goward Trevor Goward (born 18 November 1952) is a Canadian environmentalist and lichenologist known for his contributions to lichenology and his environmental conservation movement, conservation, particularly in British Columbia. Goward has authored n ...

, a lichenologist in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, Canada, in recognition of his "remarkable and ongoing work on North American lichens". This genus currently contains three species, '' Gowardia arctica'', '' Gowardia nigricans'', and ''

Gowardia zebrina ''Gowardia'' is a genus of medium-sized, greyish hair lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. It is a circumpolar genus, mainly restricted to arctic-alpine habitats in northern Canada, Europe, and Russia.Halonen, P. L. Myllys, S. Velmala, & H. Hyvä ...

'', the last of which was described in 2020. Examination of North American herbarium specimens filed under ''A. nigricans'' suggests that there are several additional species of ''Gowardia'' that have yet to be described. The species ''G. nigricans'' was previously called ''Alectoria nigricans'' ( Ach.) Nyl., while ''G. arctica'' was not differentiated as a species until the creation of this genus.

Description

''Gowardia'' are shrubby to decumbent hair lichens that are greyish to blackish in colour. They look similar to '' Alectoria'', but ''Alectoria'' contains

usnic acid Usnic acid is a naturally occurring dibenzofuran derivative found in several lichen species with the formula C18H16O7. It was first isolated by German scientist W. Knop in 1844 and first synthesized between 1933 and 1937 by Frank H. Curd and Al ...

, which gives it a yellowish to greenish-yellow hue, while ''Gowardia'' lacks this chemical and instead contains melanic

pigment A pigment is a powder used to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are completely or nearly solubility, insoluble and reactivity (chemistry), chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored sub ...

s which make it greyish to blackish in colour. The

pseudocyphellae Pseudocyphellae (singular ''pseudocyphella'') are structures in lichens that appear as tiny pores on the outer surface (the cortex) of the lichen. They are caused when there is a break in the cortex of the lichen, and the medullary hyphae extend ...

of ''Gowardia'' are always white. The species of ''Gowardia'' could be confused with several other hair lichens. '' Bryoria nitidula'' looks similar but contains fumarprotocetraric acid and has dark-coloured pseudocyphellae. ''

Bryocaulon divergens ''Bryocaulon'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution in north temperate regions, and contains three species. The genus was circumscription (taxonomy), circumscribed by Swedish lichenol ...

'' is red-brown in colour instead of greyish. '' Alectoria ochroleuca'' also looks similar, but contains usnic acid and always has some yellow parts to its thallus, while ''Gowardia'' does not.

Habitat and Distribution

''Gowardia'' is found in arctic and alpine

tundra In physical geography, a tundra () is a type of biome where tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and short growing seasons. There are three regions and associated types of tundra: #Arctic, Arctic, Alpine tundra, Alpine, and #Antarctic ...

in northern Canada, Europe, and Russia. ''G. arctica'' grows on dry to moist tundra soil in northern regions of Canada and Russia, along the

Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It spans an area of approximately and is the coldest of the world's oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognizes it as an ocean, ...

coast and islands. ''G. nigricans'' has a wider distribution, and is found in arctic and

alpine tundra Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alpine tundra gets ...

habitat in northern and northwestern North America, as well as in northern Europe and Asia. Although ''G. nigricans'' normally grows on tundra

heath A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...

, it is occasionally found on low branches of trees or shrubs.

Traditional use by people

''Gowardia nigricans'', along with '' A. ochroleuca'', '' B. divergens'', and '' B. nitidula'', is called ''tingaujaq'' by the

Inuit Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwe ...

. It is known to be a favorite food of

caribou The reindeer or caribou (''Rangifer tarandus'') is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. It is the only represe ...

, and is used by children to lure fawns close enough to touch them.Wilson, M. R. 1979. Notes on ethnobotany in Inuktitut. The Western Canadian Journal of Anthropology 8(2,3,4): 180–196.

References

External links

Pictures of ''Gowardia nigricans''
from Alaska
Picture of ''Gowardia nigricans''
from Iceland {{Taxonbar, from=Q127189 Parmeliaceae Lecanorales genera Lichen genera Taxa described in 2009 Taxa named by Leena Myllys