| Acarospora cervina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Acarosporales |
| Family: | Acarosporaceae |
| Genus: | Acarospora |
| Species: | A. cervina |
| Binomial name | |
| Acarospora cervina A.Massal | |
Acarospora cervina is a species of lichen in the Acarosporaceae family that may be referred to as reindeer lichen.[ citation needed ] It is sometimes considered Acarospora glaucocarpa var. cervina. [1]
Acarospora cervina has a thallus with many rounded areoles (3 mm diameter) of a green-grey to dark brown colour. The areoles create a rather thick lobulated crust, and therefore the surface is smooth or slightly roughened, matt, and partly to completely blue-grey hairy. The ascus contains more than 100 spores. The photobiont layer is irregular and uneven. [2]
It grows on natural limestone at low elevations, but may occur on calcareous soil. It is a calciphyte found frequently in the Czech Republic, although it also occurs in Asia, south parts of Australia, Europe and North Africa, as well as Greenland. [1] [3] It is listed on the North American checklist, but there is no evidence of it being found there, and may have been mistaken for Sarcogyne canadensis . [4] It covers areas of up to 10 cm.