LICHALP

Bryoria chalybeiformis (L.) Brodo & D. Hawksw.

Syn.: Alectoria chalybeiformis (L.) Röhl., Alectoria jubata (L.) Ach. var. chalybeiformis (L.) Ach., Alectoria prostratosteola Gyeln., Bryopogon chalybeiforme (L.) Link, Lichen chalybeiformis L.

Lichenised. Poorly known taxon.

Substrate: siliceous rocks, acidic soil (mostly on siliceous substrata), lignum, plant debris, living mosses

Altitudinal range: from the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies) to the alpine belt (potential vegetation: treeless Alpine grasslands and tundras, to the lower limit of perennial snow and the equilibrium line of glaciers)

Note: an arctic-alpine to boreal-montane, circumpolar lichen found on wind-exposed rocks, but also on soil, mosses and plant remains in exposed habitats with frequent fog, with optimum near and above treeline. It could be just a terricolous morph of B. fuscescens; widespread throughout the Alps.