Treeflute (Menegazzia terebrata)

Life history

Species overview

Treeflute (Menegazzia terebrata), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found on bark in Northern Wet-mesic Forests, often on white cedar. . This species can be identified year-round.

Synonyms: Hypogymnia pertusa

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: The holes on the upper surface of the thallus make treeflute very distinctive. Similar lichens are Hypogymnia species, which also have a tube-like thallus, but if there are any perforations, they are on the lobe tips or axils. Cavernularia lichens have perforations on the underside of the thallus and are generally smaller.
• Flower characteristics:
• Fruit characteristics: Apothecia (cup- or disc-shaped fruiting structures) usually absent.
• Leaf characteristics: Thallus light blue-green-gray with 1-2mm wide rounded lobes, inflated and tube-like, and with distinctive large, round perforations in the upper surface; lower surface black, wrinkled, without root-like attachments anchoring thallus to substrate (rhizines).

Phenology

• Blooming phenology:
• Fruiting phenology:
• Optimum time to identify: This species can be identified year-round

Other

• Growth form: Foliose lichen
• Vegetative reproduction: Vegetative propagules called soredia occur in powdery masses toward the center of the upper thallus.
• Life cycle:
• Comments: Outside of Wisconsin, treeflute is known to grow on birch, alder and beech.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Treeflute (Menegazzia terebrata). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Habitats and landscapes

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

General habitat information

• Habitat description: Found on bark in Northern Wet-mesic Forests, often on white cedar.
• Soils:

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Treeflute. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Treeflute. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.
• Maintain high forest canopy cover; this species requires shaded habitat conditions.
• Species is extremely rare in the state and is of the highest priority for conservation; please consult with your District Ecologist or NHI staff to determine if the species is present on your site and for specific recommendations.

Other resources

Links to additional Treeflute information

Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)

• Wisconsin Flora
• NatureServe Explorer
• Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
• USDA - NRCS Plants Database
• USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use