A species very similar to the more common and well-known M. sanguinarius. It differs from the latter in the absence of red pigment in apothecia and thallus, mostly 2-spored asci, smaller ascospores and secondary metabolites (atranorin, planaic acid and usnic acid in soralia). The rarer sorediate forms have yellow soralia (with usnic acid).
Mycoblastus affinis usually grows on rather acidic bark of conifers and birch in mountain forests. Less often, it is found on wood and siliceous rocks. Its distribution is predominantly boreal-montane. In central Europe, the species occurs scattered at higher elevations (usually above 1000 m). In the Czech Republic, it has been recorded in the Šumava, Krkonoše and Hrubý Jeseník Mountains. Most of the records come from spruce bark in old mountain spruce forests.
Sorediate forms are traditionally reported under the name M. alpinus, although genetically it is not a separate species (Spribille et al. 2011), only a vegetatively reproducing type. However, since they are functionally distinct entities that rarely form transitional forms, we maintain them under separate names in this Atlas.
Literature: Wirth V., Hauck M. & Schultz M. (2013): Die Flechten Deutschlands. – Ulmer, Stuttgart. Spribille T., Klug B. & Mayrhofer H. (2011): A phylogenetic analysis of the boreal lichen Mycoblastus sanguinarius (Mycoblastaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) reveals cryptic clades correlated with fatty acid profiles. – Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 59: 603–614.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Tephromelataceae → Mycoblastus
All records: 41, confirmed 40. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).