Coral Lichens on Macrolichens of Alaska

Bunodophoron melanocarpum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bunodophoron melanocarpum #

Taxon #

Bunodophoron melanocarpum

Organization #

Coral Lichens

Identification #

The coral lichen with the most robust apothecia. Similarly branched as the Sphaerophorus genus but with branches subtly flattened. A striking species when abundantly fertile with eye-like spore masses at the ends of the coral-like branches.

Substrate #

Trees or rocks, all Alaskan records from bark (Spribille et al. 2023)

Sphaerophorus fragilis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sphaerophorus fragilis #

Taxon #

Sphaerophorus fragilis

Organization #

Coral Lichens

Identification #

The least branched of the coral lichens. Forming cushions of coral-like fruticose growths on rocks. Light tan, light green, gray, or drab pinks and peach colors. Apotheciate specimens are rare compared to the infertile form, however, because this ubiquitous lichen is so abundant, specimens with spherical apothecia can usually be found in sheltered areas of a given locality in a short time. S. globosus is more common on soil and among gravel and usually has a much brighter orange color when in sunny sites. S. globosus is usually more intricately branched. The much more intricately branched corticolous species S. tuckermannii is easily separated on morphology and substrate preference. S. venerabilis is similarly less branched but is found in different habitats and also grows most often on trees.

Sphaerophorus globosus

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sphaerophorus globosus #

Taxon #

Sphaerophorus globosus

Organization #

Coral Lichens

Identification #

Sphaerophorus globosus is a fruticose lichen which looks like a coral, along with the fellow members of its family. It can be recognized by being more brightly colored, usually orangish, and less drab than S. fragilis. S. globosus is typically more branched than S. fragilis and less branched than S. tuckermanii. While there are exceptions, substrate is a good way to separate S. globosus from S. tuckermanii and S. venerabilis. S. globosus is the expected terricolous species in the tundra while S. tuckermanii and S. venerabilis are the dominant forest species.

Sphaerophorus tuckermanii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sphaerophorus tuckermanii #

Taxon #

Sphaerophorus tuckermanii

Organization #

Coral Lichens

Identification #

Like the others of its genus and family, Sphaerophorus tuckermanii is a coral-like fruticose lichen that forms spherical apothecia at the tips of its branches. S. tuckermanii can range from whitish, yellow, or green, to orangish. This species grows alongside S. venerabilis but can be separated from that species by being more intricately branched. S. globosus is the expected terricolous species among heaths and rocks in the tundras. S. tuckermanii is the more branched corticolous species expected of the forests, especially in the SE region (Spribille et al. 2023).

Sphaerophorus venerabilis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sphaerophorus venerabilis #

Taxon #

Sphaerophorus venerabilis

Organization #

Coral-Lichens

Identification #

Sphaerophorus venerabilis is the less intricately branched species of corticolous Sphaerophorus in Alaska’s forests. S. tuckermanii commonly grows with S. venerabilis but is more branched. S. venerabilis is greenish, grayish, or yellowish to orange. It has spherical apothecia at the tips of the branches.

Substrate #

corticolous, ramicolous, mossy rocks