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Letharia lupina is a species of lichen-forming fungus in the family Parmeliaceae. Commonly known as wolf lichen, it is a bright yellow-green, shrubby lichen that was split from Letharia vulpina in 2016 because, despite looking nearly identical, DNA evidence showed they are distinct lineages. It is widely distributed in western North America, where it grows on the wood and bark of conifers and other trees from valley floors to treeline. The thallus is rich in vulpinic acid, a toxic yellow pigment historically used in wolf baits in northern Europe. Outside North America, the species has also been recorded from Morocco and Switzerland.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Letharia lupina being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Ascomycota
- Class
- Lecanoromycetes
- Order
- Lecanorales
- Family
- Parmeliaceae
- Genus
- Letharia
- Species
- Letharia lupina
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