Paramo de las Papas - Purace Volcano - Huila - Colombia

 

Fam.: TELOSCHISTACEAE

Teloschistes cf. exilis / flavicans

Teloschistes exilis is reported from United States ( Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, ... ) Mexico, Colombia, South Africa and other World Regions.

Teloschistes flavicans with similar habitus is reported from Europe and United States but with "mostly missing Apothecia"

Teloschistes chrysophthalmus is known from Western Europe Coastal Regions (England, Channel Islands, Western and Mediterranean)  and North America (California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington) growing on twigs. The species found at Purace National Park distinguishes from that latter by missing lashes at the margins of the Apothecia. 

Specimen Apothecia without lashes

The museum specimen was found at a height of about 3.180 msnm in Cloud Forest at aprox. 2°10`05 N 26°24`15 W 

Fam.: CLADONIACEAE

Habitus similar to Pilophorus robustus

Black Apothecia and Pseudopodetia stout and branched above with grey granulate surface give habitus similarity to P. robustus. But stems grow higher than 2 cms and develop more thin branches. Pilophorus robustus is described as circumpolar from Alaska to Greenland and Northern Scandinavia, where it grows on the ground (on stone) and is considered as seldom. 

The specimen found at Purace National Park was found growing on stem or branch / tree bark in Cloud Forest at a height of aprox. 3180 msnm.

The museum specimen was found at a height of about 3.180 msnm in Cloud Forest at aprox. 2°10`05 N 26°24`15 W 

Site Description

Habitat of both species is Andean CLOUD FOREST in CORDILLERA CENTRAL at 3180 msnm. 

The Area is situated in Purace Volcano National Park in Southwestern Colombia at the departamental frontier between Cauca and Huila (Road from Popayan to San Agustin). 

The specimen have been collected in July / August of 1985

Fam.: UNDETERMINATED

Specimen habitus similar to certain Peltigera species and

Pseudocyphellaria crocata

The collection site of this specimen is unsecure.

The specimen is registered under "Cauca", but not explicitely as "Cauca / Paramo Papas" as the before described specimen. Other collection sites in Cauca Department have been Silvia and Coconuco.