Distribution: Widespread in western North America. Most common in and east of the Cascades; occasionally found west of the Cascades in the Puget Sound Trough and Olympic Mtns.
Habitat: Common in dry conifer forest, occasional in moist or shaded forests; from low elevations up to timberline.
Substrate: On bark or wood, most abundant on dead branches and snags; rare on rock.
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Fruticose and much branched, tufted; branches bright yellow to chartreuse green; solid; medulla white.
Apothecia rare; isidia and/or soredia present.
Intermediate
negative
A conspicuous and common species in dry forests east of the Cascades, particularly on ponderosa pine.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Letharia vulpina in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
CalPhotos: Letharia vulpina photos