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Project Noah Nature School
Pilophorus acicularis
"The pseudopodetia (upright stalk-like extensions of the thallus made of vegetative tissue) range from 0.5 to 3 cm (0.2 to 1.2 in) high, and are about 1 mm thick; they grow in dense clusters. Most pseudopodetia are either unbranched or forked into two branches, with the stalks curved so as to appear as if combed; less frequently, they are erect like pins, and up to 1 cm (0.4 in) tall. The thallus is the vegetative body of a lichen that contains the lichen mycobiont (fungus) and the photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacteria). In P. acicularis, the primary thallus (thallus horizontalis) is spread out like a granular crust on the surface of its substrate. It is light green when young, but becomes gray in age or when dry."
Dead Western Hemlock log with a lot of other lichen.
Spotted on Jul 22, 2013
Submitted on Aug 7, 2013
4 Comments
Thank you, chesterbperry! It was wonderful to see so much variety :)
You have captured some beautiful photos of lichens up there in Alaska.
Thank you Emma! I was excited to find this.
nice spot and pics!