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Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Thorny Pixie-Sticks Lichen - Cladonia uncialis

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Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S1
(see State Rank Reason below)


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 

External Links

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Known to occur at one location in Montana.
 
General Description
Thallus is two-parted, consisting of a foliose thallus and an erect podetium. Podetia lack soredia and primary squamules are not evident. Podetia are highly branched, 2-11 cm tall, 1-1.5(4) mm diameter, cupless, dilated, generally perforate at the axils, and are light green or pale to deep yellowish; ultimate branches form small whorls around open axils; and apothecia are small, less than 0.8mm, and brown. (McCune and Geiser 2009). Chemistry: Thallus K-, P-, UV+ or UV- (McCune and Geiser 2009).

Range Comments
Widespread, northern, but rare in the Pacific Northwest (McCune and Geiser 2009), northern Idaho, and Montana.

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 1

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
On soil and mosses. Also on talus slopes with cold-air drainage.

Reproductive Characteristics
Reproduces by spores from the apothecium.

Threats or Limiting Factors
Recreation and road improvement (road widening) activities.

References
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Citation for data on this website:
Thorny Pixie-Sticks Lichen — Cladonia uncialis.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from