Sphaerophorus globosus (Huds.) Vain.

Res. Voy. S. Y. Belgica, Bot.: 35, 1903. Basionym: Lichen globosus Huds. - Fl. Angl.: 460, 1762.
Synonyms: Sphaerophorus coralloides Pers.; Sphaerophorus globiferus (L.) DC.
Distribution: N - Ven (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), TAA (Nascimbene & al. 2006e, 2007b, Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Lomb (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Piem (Isocrono & al. 2004, Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), VA (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Emil (Brunialti & al. 2001, Puntillo & Puntillo 2009, Fariselli & al. 2020). C - Tosc (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Sar (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009). S - Camp (Ravera & al. 2020b), Bas (Puntillo & al. 2012), Cal (Puntillo 1994, 1996, Puntillo & Puntillo 2009).
Description: Thallus fruticose, caespitose-coralloid, grey to brown, the apices often paler, 3-7 cm tall, more or less erect, forming small to large cushions (up to 15 cm across), often richly but loosely and irregularly branched. Main branches terete, erect to decumbent, occasionally becoming pendent, rather coarse, 0.5-1 mm in diam.; secondary branches usually with frequent lateral branching and numerous slender, coralloid branchlets. Surface smooth, generally dull to glossy and maculate, occasionally transversely cracked. Cortex of thick-walled, gelatinized hyphae running in various directions, covered by a thin epicortex; medulla of longitudinally arranged, thick-walled hyphae, I+ dark blue. Apothecia rare, 1.2-1.8 mm across, terminal, globose, at first immersed in swollen, stalked apices, soon bursting apically to expose a dry mass of black ascospores (mazaedium), surrounded by a torn thalline exciple. Proper exciple thin, poorly evident; epithecium soon disintegrating, brown to green, N+ red; paraphyses thread-like, strongly carbonized, soon disintegrating; hypothecium brown-black or rarely colourless. Asci 8-spored, soon disintegrating, cylindrical, unitunicate, thin-walled, formed singly from ascogenous hyphae with croziers, Calicium-type, with uniseriately arranged spores. Ascospores 1-celled, at first greenish, then dark violet to blue-black, subglobose, 5-10 µm in diam, with a dark, irregular ornamentation. Pycnidia occasional, terminal, semi-immersed. Conidia 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid to obovate, 3-5 x 1-2 µm. Spot tests: cortex K-, C-, KC-, P-; medulla K- or K+ yellow, KC-, C-, P- or P+ yellow, I+ blue. Chemistry: sphaerophorin, and variable amounts of thamnolic, squamatic, and hypothamnolic acids in different combinations.
Note: restricted to cold-humid areas, mostly on rocks, very rarely (in Italy) at the base of old boles in natural forests, probably extinct in several regions. Earlier records from Sicily, not validated by Puntillo & Puntillo (2009), are excluded. For further information see Högnabba & Wedin (2003). It is included in the Italian red list of epiphytic lichens as “Vulnerable” (Nascimbene & al. 2013c).
Growth form: Fruticose

Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
Most common in areas with a humid-warm climate (e.g. most of Tyrrenian Italy)

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: extremely rare
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: very rare
Submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Humid mediterranean belt: absent
Dry mediterranean belt: absent

pH of the substrata:

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Solar irradiation:

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Eutrophication:

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Poleotolerance:

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Predictive model
Herbarium samples
Index Fungorum GBIF

Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (3225)
2001/11/30


Triin Aimla; Owner: University of Tartu



Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
Image from: F. Schumm (2008) - Flechten Madeiras, der Kanaren und Azoren. Beck, OHG - ISBN: 978-3-00-023700-3


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Leif Stridvall
Courtesy: Anita Stridvall


Zahlbruckner A. 1926. Lichenes (Flechten). In: Engler A. (ed.): Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien. 2nd ed., vol 8, W. Engelmann, Leipzig, 270 pp.



P.L. Nimis CC BY-SA 4.0
TSB 44140


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Nere Sorrentino
Spain, Galicia, Pontevedra


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_S/Sphaerophorus_globosus.htm
France, session AFL 2013 dans le Forez - Puy-de-Dôme


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Cap de la Chèvre


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Cap de la Chèvre


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Cap de la Chèvre


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Iraty


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Iraty


Michel David - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Cap de la Chèvre


Alain Gerault - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Pointe du Raz


Alain Gerault - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Pointe du Raz


Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
Belgium, Monthermé


Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
Belgium, Monthermé


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Roc'h Trévézel


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=247&lang=en
France, Cap de la Chèvre
UV+


Ulrich Kirschbaum
Spain; Canary Islands: La Gomera.


Ulrich Kirschbaum
Portugal:Madeira.