<  Sphaerophorus venerabilis
Stereocaulon spathuliferum  >
Click on Characteristic name for explanation. Click on image for larger version.
Stereocaulon alpinum

Overview
PNW Range:
  West sideUncommon
  East sideOccasional
  Immediate coastNone
  Alpine or subalpineOccasional
Habitat: Alpine to subalpine, widespread, arctic to Oregon and Colorado.
Substrate: On soil, humus, or soil over rock.
Comments:
Synonymy: none
Stereocaulon alpinum - Cephalodia
Cephalodia
by B. McCune
1/3
Stereocaulon alpinum - Habit
Habit
by B. McCune
2/3
Stereocaulon alpinum - Phyllocladia and tomentum
Phyllocladia and tomentum
by B. McCune
3/3
Scale: Bar=1mm unless noted
Growth Form
Fruticose: Almost always
Foliose: Never
Crustose: Never
Appressed Foliose: Never
Fluffy Foliose or Strappy: Never
Dangling Hair: Never
Erect Hair: Never
Appressed Hair: Never
Stalks With Squamules: Never
Stalks: Almost always
Squamules: Never
Single Holdfast: Sometimes
Dangling Nets: Never

Upper Surface
Upper Surface Color    (Dry) 
   Pale Green: Sometimes
   Whitish: Almost always
   Pale Gray: Almost always
Upper Surface Tomentose: Sometimes
Upper Surface Pruinose or Scabrid: Never
Upper Surface with Network of Ridges: Never
Upper Surface with Pseudocyphellae: Never
   Upper Surface with Holes into Cavity: Never
Cilia on Margins: Never

Interior
Inside (Medulla) Yellow or Orange: Never
Central Cord: Never
Hollow Stalks or Hollow Lobes: Never
Gelatinous: Never

Photobiont
Green Algae Primary Photobiont: Almost always
Cyanobacteria Primary Photobiont: Never
Internal Cephalodia: Never
External Cephalodia: Almost always

Chemistry
Cortex K+ Yellow: Almost always
Medulla UV+ Blue White: Almost always
Sexual Reproduction
Perithecia: Never
Apothecia: Sometimes
   Mazaedium: Never
Disk Color    (Dry) 
   Disk Brown or Tan: Almost always

Asexual Reproduction
Isidia: Never
Soredia: Never
Lobules: Never