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.

Substrate #

terricolous among rocks and heaths (Spribille et al. 2023), rarely corticolous

Notes #

Ubiquitous throughout Alaska

Photos #