Sphaerophorus globosus is characterized by brownish coralloid branches. It mainly grows on mossy siliceous rocks and boulders and on acidic bark of older trees in old-growth forests. Its distribution is boreal-montane to arctic-alpine with oceanic tendencies. The species is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere but rare in central Europe. In the Czech Republic, it only survived in a few localities. Recently, the lichen was confirmed on rowans in old-growth spruce forests around Praděd Mt in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts, on a beech in an old mixed forest on the slopes of Králický Sněžník Mt and in the Šumava Mts, where it grows in glacial cirques, on screes in Vydra valley and old-growth spruce forests on Trojmezná Mt. In the past, it occurred in most of the border mountains and also in the humid ravines of sandstone rock formations with inverse climate in northern Bohemia. Sphaerophorus globosus is very sensitive to changes in microclimate, e. g., due to a water drainage or intensive forest management. Additionally, acid rain contributed to its decline.
Literature: Liška J., Dětinský R. & Palice Z. (1996): Importance of the Šumava Mts for the biodiversity of lichens in the Czech Republic. – Silva Gabreta 1: 71–81.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Sphaerophoraceae → Sphaerophorus
Red List (Liška & Palice 2010):CR – critically endangered
Red List (Malíček 2023):C1 – critically endangered
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 14, confirmed 13. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).