Sauteria alpina (Nees) Nees

Sauteria alpina Nees, Naturg. Eur. Leberm. 4: 143. 1838
Lunularia alpina Nees; Nees & Bisch. Flora 13; 399. 1830.
Thallus mostly 0.5-1.5 cm. long and 3-5 mm. wide, the upper surface clearly divided into polygonal areas, the roofs of the chambers often disappearing with age, with a rounded keel and thin, erectspreading wings; epidermal cells averaging about 50 X 30 m; pores distinctly elevated, usually surrouuded by 6 cells, the thickenings of the radial walls distinct; ventral scales scarcely extending to the margin and not forming a conspicuous apical cluster. Antheridia usually borne on a ventral branch, more rarely on a branch of a dichotomy; stalk of female receptacle mostly 1-1.5 cm. long, the disc about 2 mm. wide; spores yellowish-brown, mostly 60-70 M in diameter; elaters about 10 m wide, with 2-4 brown spirals. Type IvOCAUTy: Austria.
Distribution: Greenland; Quebec; Alaska; Alberta; also in Europe and northern Asia; a species of arctic and alpine regions, growing on calcareous substrata.