Stereocaulon paschale

Stereocaulon paschale
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Lecanorales
Family:	Stereocaulaceae
Genus:	Stereocaulon
Species:	S. paschale
Binomial name
Stereocaulon paschale (L.) Hoffm. (1796)
Synonyms
Lichen paschalis L. (1753)

Stereocaulon paschale is a species of lichen belonging to the family Stereocaulaceae.

It has a cosmopolitan distribution.

In Iceland, it has the conservation status of a vulnerable species (VU).

Ecology

Stereocaulon paschale is host to some lichenicolous fungi which infect various parts of the thallus. Most of these fungi have a Holarctic distribution. These fungi include:

• Arthonia stereocaulina, Infects the phyllocladia but rarely causes disease.
• Catillaria stereocaulorum, Mainly infects the phyllocladia, which can become swollen and dark. It is common in the Arctic.
• Cercidospora stereocaulorum, Infects phyllocladia and sometimes on stems, cephalodia and apothecia.
• Endococcus nanellus, Infects phyllocladia and sometimes on stems, cephalodia and apothecia. Often found in discolored apothecia but does probably not cause the discoloration.
• Lasiosphaeriopsis stereocaulicola, Usually found at the stem base which can turn brown but no other symptoms are known.
• Lichenopeltella stereocaulorum, Most often found on stems. This species was only discovered in 2010.
• Opegrapha stereocaulicola, Infects stems which may become darker.
• Phaeosporobolus alpinus, Commensal. Most commonly found on species of Pertusaria or Ochrolechia.
• Polycoccum trypethelioides, Produces galls on stem which change colour with time turning cinnamon colour or brown.