Playing With Matches

Day 56: Three species of Matchstick Lichen occur in North America. One is confined to the coastal areas in Washington, and the other two appear frequently in Longmire and other Park locations, but unless you are looking for them specifically, you would probably pass them by without a second glance. Shown here with a fir needle for size comparison, Pilophorus clavatus (Tapered Matchstick) exhibits club-shaped, black apothecia atop podetia (stems) which may take on a reddish hue under certain conditions. Pilophorus acicularis (Devil's Matchstick) is similar in size, but has obviously round apothecia. Both species are "pioneers," i.e., they are capable of colonizing in a very thin layer of dust and can be found growing on otherwise bald rocks. Take a magnifier with you if you're hiking the Rampart Ridge trail, and if you happen to notice someone down on their knees in front of a rock, that's probably me, playing with Matches.

Best Rock In The Park

Day 60: There are three known species of "matchstick" lichens in the Pacific Northwest, two of which can be found in Mount Rainier National Park. Pilophorus clavatus ("tapered matchstick," left) and Pilophorus acicularis ("devil's matchstick," right) are easy to miss because at their tallest, their thready stems do not rise more than an inch in height. Clavatus' apothecia (fruiting bodies) are elongated and club-like, supported by reddish podetia (stalks), while the knobby, round heads of acicularis cap pale green podetia. They are both pioneer species, occurring on freshly broken rock ("freshly" being defined here as a measure of decades rather than weeks). Not far from the Administration Building at Longmire, the two matchsticks can be found together on what I think of as "the best rock in the Park."