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BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Lobaria pulmonaria
lungwort

 
Scientific Name: Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.
English Name: lungwort
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Esslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4): 467-549.
Classification Level: Species
Species Group: Lichen
Species Code: LOBAPUL
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Plantae Ascomycota Lecanoromycetes Peltigerales Lobariaceae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G5 (Feb 2017)
Provincial Status: S5 (Mar 2018)
BC List: Yellow
Provincial FRPA list:   
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status:
SARA Schedule:
General Status Canada:
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description: Thallus foliose, medium to large, mostly 5-15cm broad; lobes generally 1-3 cm broad; upper surface greenish to olive or brownish, with a network of ridges; soredia and/or isidia present, in roundish spots on the ridges and margins, occasionally lobules developing on decandent individuals; photobiont green but with blue green photobiont in cephalodia; apothecia uncommon; medulla K+Y, P+O, C-, KC- (norstic and stictic acid group (McCune and Geiser 2009).
Technical Description:
Diagnostic Characteristics: Lobaria pseudoplumonaria is similar to L. pulmonaria, however, the former has cyanobacteria as the main photobiont and lacks soredia and isidia; it is found in many parts of Alaska (Brodo et al. 2000).
In the Pacific Northwest, Lobaria pulmonaria, is the most widespread species in the genus, and is easily recognized by its greenish color when wet, the presence of soredia, and the network of coarse ridges on the upper surface. Young specimens might be confused with L. linita, but can be distinguished by its negative K and P tests (McCune and Geiser 2009).
Similar Species:
Global Reproduction Comments: Studies have indicated that this species is heterothallic, and that it is self-incompatible, requiring an exchange between two different genotypes for apothecial development. It has also been found to have poor dispersal abilities (Zoller et al. 1999).
Global Ecology Comments: It is a food source for moose in northeastern North America (Brodo et al. 2000).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence)
Global Habitat Comments: Occurs on trees, mossy rocks and wood in mature forests most often in the shade (Brodo et al. 2001).
In the Pacific Northwest, moist lowland to mid-elevation forests in areas of strong coastal influence. In the east Cascade Mountains it is associated with old-growth forests, and found in riparian areas in sheltered valleys. West of the Cascades this lichen is more strongly associated with hardwoods than confer forests (McCune and Geiser 2009). It has been noted that all species of Lobaria good indicators of rich, unpolluted and often very old forests (Brodo et al. 2001).
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Elevation (m) (min / max): Provincial: 
Known Pests:
Pollen Vector:
Pollinator:
Dispersal: Wind
   
 
Provincial Inventory
Inventory Priority:
Ownership of occurrences (Known locations):
Inventory Need:
 
Economic Attributes
Global Economic Comments: Lobaria pulmonaria has long been used as a source of boiling water dye. It also has herbalistic qualities and has been used to treat lung diseases, asthma, hemorrages, and eczema. It has also been brewed for tea. Finally, L. pulmonaria is used in forest monitoring regimes because it is an indicator of unpolluted, and often very old forests (Brodo et al. 2000).
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Is found in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa (Zoller et al. 1999). Occurs in North America on both coasts. In the east, it ranges from Newfoundland and Labrador south to Virginia, and inland to Kentucky and Indiana. In the west, it ranges from Newfoundland and Labrador east throughout much of Quebec and Ontario and south through Michigan. It does not occur in the central part of North America. In the west, it occurs from coastal Alaska south to British Columbia, where it occurs inland, and south through Washington, coastal Oregon, and California (Brodo et al. 2000).
Disjunct, more common elsewhere:
Peripheral, major distribution elsewhere:
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author:
Last Updated:
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
Last Literature Search:
   
References and Related Literature
Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press. New Haven and London. 795 pp.
McCune, B. and L. Geiser. 2009. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest: Second Edition. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. 448 pp.
Muir, P., and A. M. Shirazi. 1997a. Seasonal growth dynamics in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. Bryologist 100(4): 458-464.
Zoller, S. , F. Lutzoni, and C. Scheidegger. 1999a. Genetic variation within and among populations of the threatened lichen Lobaria pumlonaria in Switzerland and implications for its conservation. Molecular Ecology 8: 2049-2059.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. Species Summary: Lobaria pulmonaria. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Aug 10, 2025).