Alectoria sarmentosa (Ach.) Ach.

Lich. Univ.: 595 (1810).

Basionym: Lichen sarmentosus Ach., in Liljeblad, Utkast Svensk Fl.: 427 (1792).

 

Type locality: Sweden (H-ACH 1818A - lectotype, Howe, Mycologia 3: 150, Pl. 45, 1911; typification by Hawksworth, Lichenologist 5: 238 (1972).

Type locality coordinates: Data lacking.

Molecular barcode: Data lacking.

Thallus: fruticose, pendent, to 50 cm long, rarely longer, yellow to greenish grey, apices o?en blackened. Without distinct main branches, richly branched, branches mainly terete, sometimes slightly ?attened or foveolate, 0.5- 3 mm diam. Soralia rare, tuberculate. Pseudocyphellae conspicuous, raised, fusiform, white. Apothecia lateral, 2-3 mm diam; disc orange yellow to black. Pycnidia usually common, to 2.0 mm diam., conidia unknown.

Photobiont: Trebouxioid green alga.

Chemistry: Cortex C—, K—, KC+ yellow, PD—; usnic acid. Medulla C—, K—, KC+ red or KC—, PD—; usually alectoronic acid, sometimes squamatic acid.
Apparently two chemical races: "The KC- chemotype has not yet been found in Montana". (McCune et al. 2014: 19).

Ecology: Northern boreal forests, becoming rare towards south. Fairly oceanic. Corticolous, especially on coniferous trees in old forests, rarely on tundra soil. Indicator of oldgrowth forests. Rare in Nordic countries.

Molecular data: Genbank

Distribution: Subcosmopolitic. Europe, Asia, North America, Middle America (Costa Rica), South America (Bolivia, Patagonia a.o.). Macaronesia (Hierro, Gomera, Madeira). Lacking in Mainland Africa and Australia. Database

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