Stereocaulon grande (H. Magn.) H. Magn

in Degelius, Ark. Bot. 25A, 1: 47, 1932.. Basionym: Stereocaulon paschale var. grande H. Magn. - in Zahlbr., Cat. Lich. Univ., 4: 657, 1927.
Synonyms:
Distribution:
Description: Primary thallus crustose, ephemeral, usually absent in mature individuals. Pseudopodetia rigid, suberect, 4-8 cm high, up to 2 mm thick at base, slowly tapering to apices, with a few and short branches, the main axis dominant to the tip, with a pale pink tomentum, with a rather loose cartilaginous axis of parallel hyphae surrounded by a lax medulla. Phyllocladia clustered along the pseudopodetia, crenate-squamulose to digitate-squamulose, 0.4-0.8 mm long, c. 0.2 mm wide (larger than those of S. paschale, more delicate and divided than those of S. alpinum). Cephalodia scarce and difficult to observe because embedded in the tomentum, sometimes absent, small, globulose, pale brown, sparsely tomentose, with Nostoc or Stigonema. Apothecia almost terminal, blackish brown, 1-2.5 mm across, at first flat and thinly marginate, then slightly convex and with reflexed margin. Proper exciple brown in outer part, colourless within; epithecium brown, K-; hymenium colourless, 50-60 µm high, I blue; paraphyses 1-1.5 µm thick, capitate, the apical cells 4-5 µm wide; hypothecium 40-50 µ high, I+ blue. Asci 8-spored, cylindrical-clavate, with a K/I+ blue outer layer and apical dome, and a central, K/I+ darker blue tube, Porpidia-type. Ascospores 3(-4)-septate, thicker at one end, hyaline, fusiform, often slightly curved, 20-45 x 2-3 µm. Pycnidia dark, half-immersed. Conidia straight, 5-6 x c. 0.6 µm. Main photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: K+ slowly greenish yellow, C-, KC+ violet (reaction often difficult to observe), P+ slowly pale yellow, UV+ blue-white. Chemistry: atranorin and lobaric acid.
Note: a species of alluvial soils, widespread in Europe from the boreal-montane to the subarctic-subalpine zone, but not common; from the Alps there are only some scattered records, but perhaps the species was not always distinguished; to be looked for in the Italian Alps.
Growth form: Fruticose

Substrata: soil, terricolous mosses, and plant debris
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia (primary); cyanobacteria, filamentous (e.g. Nostoc, Scytonema) (secundary, e.g. in cephalodia)
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: extremely rare
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: extremely rare
Submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Humid mediterranean belt: absent
Dry mediterranean belt: absent

pH of the substrata:

12345

(info)

Solar irradiation:

12345

(info)

Aridity:

12345

(info)

Eutrophication:

12345

(info)

Poleotolerance:

0123

(info)

Altitudinal distribution:

123456

(info)


Predictive model
Index Fungorum GBIF

Einar Timdal. Source: http://www.nhm2.uio.no/botanisk/lav/Photo_Gallery/Stereocaulon/grande_G=Norway+Finnmark+Kautokeino_H=O-L123254_D=20030814_C=ET_I=1.jpg


Frey E. 1933. Cladoniaceae (unter Ausschluß ded Gattung Cladonia) und Umbilicariaceae. In: Rabenhrst’s Kryptogamenflora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. 15: 1-208.


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_S/Text_S/Stereocaulon_grande.htm
France, 23/8/2015 - Chamonix - Haute-Savoie


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_S/Text_S/Stereocaulon_grande.htm
France, 23/8/2015 - Chamonix - Haute-Savoie