G. arctica G. nigricans G. zebrina Gowardia is a genus of medium-sized, greyish hair lichens in the family Parmeliaceae.

[1] Gowardia was named after Trevor Goward, a lichenologist in British Columbia, Canada, in recognition of his "remarkable and ongoing work on North American lichens".

Examination of North American herbarium specimens filed under A. nigricans suggests that there are several additional species of Gowardia that have yet to be described.

G. arctica grows on dry to moist tundra soil in northern regions of Canada and Russia, along the Arctic Ocean coast and islands.

[4] Although G. nigricans normally grows on tundra heath, it is occasionally found on low branches of trees or shrubs.