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Cladonia stellaris (Opiz) Pouzar & Vezda, 1971

Common name Star-tipped Reindeer Lichen Code: CLADSTE
Field Characters Fruticose, shrub-like chlorolichen. Thallus white to pale yellowish-green, composed of rounded golf-ball or cauliflower-head like thalli. Podetia branch extensively, typically lacking a central podetial stem.
Similar species
None in Alberta – all other reindeer lichen have more tree-like branching.
Ecology Terricolous and muscicolous, common in bogs and open jackpine stands. Most abundant in the shield region and northern Alberta.
Chemistry PD-, K-, KC+ yellow, UV- or + blue-white (may need to crumble a bit of branch to expose fresh material (usnic and perlatolic acids)
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Lichens of Alberta Copyright © by Diane L. Haughland is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.