Matchstick Lichens on Macrolichens of Alaska

Pilophorus acicularis

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

Pilophorus acicularis #

Taxon #

Pilophorus acicularis

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

Forming bunches of slender fruticose growths tipped in black apothecia which sharply contrast their light gray-green pseudopodetia. The apothecia are closer to spherical in P. acicularis while they are more elongated in the similar P. clavatus.

Substrate #

Acidic rocks

Chemical Tests #

thallus and stalks: K+ yellow, C-, KC-, Pd- (Brodo et al. 2001)

Pilophorus cereolus

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

Pilophorus cereolus #

Taxon #

Pilophorus cereolus

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

Pilophorus cereolus is the only sorediate member of the genus and with the shortest pseudopodetia (P. dovrensis is crustose). It may be mistaken for a species of Stereocaulon but the lookalikes of that genus typically do not have the consistently curved or bent appearance of the pseudopodetia of P. cereolus.

Pilophorus clavatus

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

Pilophorus clavatus #

Taxon #

Pilophorus clavatus

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

Like the other matchstick lichens, Pilophorus clavatus is vaguely Cladonia-like, a member of the Cladoniaceae family, but tipped with ink-black apothecia and not forming cups. P. clavatus is most similar to P. acicularis, but P. clavatus has a more elongated “matchhead” and has an overall color which tends towards olive green where P. acicularis is a more gray -green but there is overlap depending on habitat.

Pilophorus dovrensis

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

Pilophorus dovrensis #

Taxon #

Pilophorus dovrensis

Organization #

Select Crustose Species, Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

This species appears to be somewhat uncommon but may also may just be overlooked. It is essentially the matchstick lichen which has lost its matchstick, having a Pilophorus-like apothecia growing directly on rock. In some well-developed specimens very subtle stalks can grow under some of the apothecia but they are often obscured by the broader apothecia.

Pilophorus nigricaulis

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

Pilophorus nigricaulis #

Taxon #

Pilophorus nigricaulis

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens, Cladoniaceae

Identification #

Pilophorus nigricaulis is a matchstick lichen with a blackened central portion like P. vegae. P. nigricaulis is separated from that species by producing apothecia. P, nigricaulis can be erect or with pseudopodetia which lay or droop over the rock substrate.

Pilophorus robustus

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

Pilophorus robustus #

Taxon #

Pilophorus robustus

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

This light gray to light green matchstick lichen has multiple clustered apothecia at the end of each pseudopodetia. This species might be mistaken for Cladonia cariosa or another species of Pilophorus if young or underdeveloped. Apothecia blackened rather than dark brown and lacking longitudinal fissures help to separate from C. cariosa.

Pilophorus vegae

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

Pilophorus vegae #

Taxon #

Pilophorus vegae

Organization #

Matchstick Lichens

Identification #

Of the matchstick lichens this species is the one which does not produce true apothecia (Brodo et al. 2001). P. nigricaulis shares a similar black core but produces apothecia and the pseudopodetia often have a more drooping, appressed habit in that species. Apothecia are very rare in P. cereolus and is typically found without, but that species is densely sorediate and does not have the same black core of the pseudopodetia.