BGBM: lichens, keys

Lichen determination keys
available on INTERNET

A. "Traditional", articulated keys, taxonomical / geographical arrangement ( B. Interactive keys )
These keys can be downloaded and used with an internet browser to keep the link functions, or (many of them) printed and used like a traditional, printed key. Several keys are presented with the internet adaptation developed by Tom Hollowell (Smithsonian Institution, Washington), whose cooperation is gratefully acknowledged. For further lichenological web publications see Zschackia.

Keys to the lichen genera of the Neotropics
Key to the lichen genera of the Guianas (tropical South America)
Key to the foliicolous lichen genera of the World
Key to the podetiate and pseudopodetiate lichens of highland Ecuador (genera Baeomyces, Cladia, Cladina, Cladonia, Dibaeis and Phyllobaeis)
Key to lime-loving (calciphilous) lichens in eastern North America
Synoptic key for some common NorthWestern USA lichens
Illustrated key to British twig-inhabiting lichens
Terricolous lichens of Italy (pdf-file)
Cladoniaceae of Chile
Lichen genera of Iran
Common Malesian Lichen genera

Key to the foliicolous species of the genus Arthonia
Key to Bacidia, Bacidina and Fellhanera of the Ozarks, USA (with descriptions, illustrations)
Key to the tropical species of Buellia s.l. with 2-celled spores
Keys to the Caliciales of Norway
Keys to the genus Caloplaca, offered by Cliff Wetmore ("Gasparrinia", brown-black-fruited species, sideritis-group, sorediate/isidiate species)
Key to Cladina and Cladonia on the Queen Charlotte Islands and neighboring areas
Key to the genus Cladonia in The Netherlands (in Dutch, but with pictures for all species)
Key to the Cladoniaceae of the Guianas
Key ti the Cladoniaceae of Chile
Key to Gomphillus in eastern North America
Working keys to Graphidaceae of Costa Rica
Working keys to Gyalideopsis worldwide
Keys to sorediate, isidiate Heterodermia and to Heterodermia with podocarpa-type thallus, by Felix Schumm, PDF-files (in German)
Key for the genus Hyperphyscia worldwide
Revised key for the genus Hypotrachyna in Tropical America
Preliminary key to Lecanora species likely to occur in New England
Revised key to the Megalosporaceae (genera Austroblastenia, Megaloblastenia and Megalospora)
Compiled key to the species of the genus Mycomicrothelia worldwide.
Key to Ophioparma in eastern North America
Key to the Parmeliaceae of Macaronesia by Felix Schumm, PDF-file (in German)
Key to the genus Parmelia in Great Britain and Ireland (illustrated version offered by British Lichen Society on CD)
Key to the genus Parmelia s. str. in eastern North America
MASON HALE's key for the genus Parmotrema, revised edition: key to wide-lobed parmelioid species occurring in Tropical America (genera Canomaculina, Parmotrema, Rimelia)
Compiled identification key to the genus Pertusaria and some confusible taxa in Europe and the Mediterranean
Preliminary world-wide key to the genus Pertusaria by A.W. Archer and J.A. Elix
Key to the foliicolous species of the genus Porina
Key to Protoblastenia of the Ozarks, USA (with descriptions, illustrations)
Key for the genus Relicina worldwide
Key for the genus Stereocaulon in Tropical America

A geographical arrangement of available keys is available in the world checklist website. Select the desired country and click the button for keys.

Archived versions of these keys can be found at http://www.toyen.uio.no/botanisk/lav/LichenKey/.

B. Interactive keys.
These keys are based on a character set in a database and can be used only with a computer. They allow access with the users' own selection of characters.
For the latest, updated information see the LIAS site.
Available subsets from the LIAS project:

Lichen Genera of Germany - BETA version - 96-07-22 - by G. Rambold & D. Triebel, This subset includes the (partly incomplete) data of 270 lichen genera.
Genera with Foliicolous Taxa - BETA version - 96-11-22 - by G. Rambold & D. Triebel. (most data sets revised by R. Lücking). This subset includes the (partly incomplete) data of more than 80 lichen genera.
Lichenologists involved in flora projects may obtain as well other subsets of the generic key right now.
For the following genera subsets for species determination are available, prepared in cooperation with specialists: Arthonia (red-fruited), Biatora (Europe), Bunodophoron, Cladonia p.p., Diploschistes, Epigloea, Lecanora (key to 193 species of Lecanora s.str.), Lecideaceae (Europe), Megalospora, Miriquidica, Phaeophyscia, Rimularia, Tephromela, Vulpicida.
LIAS-light: trimmed for the identification of (mainly) European lichen species; datasets for Germany and Great Britain are almost complete now; shortcut.

Further available:

Interactive key to calicioid lichens and fungi of the Nordic countries

Working keys to Graphidaceae of Costa Rica

BGBM homepage

BGBM research homepage

© Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität Berlin
page editor: Harrie Sipman, this page last updated 24 April 2006, imprint
http://www.bgbm.org/sipman/keys/default.htm