Lichen Photography
Heck yeah! Trees can have stubble too
By Bob Danley
October 22, 2021
Mature bark pattern of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Note green tones on bark...what is it?
Zooming in...green still evident covered with multitudes of upright black hair-like structures...not moss...
Looking even closer...the black "hairs" now resemble bearded stubble. Green is the thallus (vegetative body) of a lichen. Black stubble is reproductive structure...
Clearly seen now is the "stubble" of Green Stubble Lichen (Calicium viride)...Apt name! Common on conifer bark in the Pacific Northwest...
Other stubble lichen species (29 others in N.A.) can also be found on exposed tree roots...look for the bright green color (thallus) again in photo...
Yep, get close and note the different colored stubble. This species is Sulphur Stubble Lichen (Chaenotheca furfuracea)...
This lichen is found in small areas of Northeast, upper Midwest, Northwest and Southwest U.S. Tipped over conifer trees w/exposed roots best place to search.
Calicium glaucellum is another stubble species found on barkless standing tree stumps. Found mainly in Pacific Northwest and Northeast U.S.
Note size (~.5" tall) of the green pixie cup lichen (Cladonia sp.) in upper left compared to nearby tiny black stem and capitula (expanded head atop stem) of Calicium glaucellum
Find some today or any day of the year. Locate conifers, dead or alive, and look closely for telltale stubble. Enjoy the challenge!