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.

Substrate #

saxicolous

Notes #

The epithet of this lichen, vegae, comes from the Vega Expedition. This species is an endemic of Alaska and Beringia. It has been found on Nunivak Island.