commonly known nail devil species family crust like like body parts starts crust rock surface develops tall thick rounded black tips erect curved appear grows directly rocks dense clusters found west coast north_america alaska eastern addition green algae contains help contribute soil fertility supplying fixed nitrogen originally described transferred genus history taxonomy phylogeny species described swedish botanist father taxon transferred different genera decades resulting synonyms including son transferred species newly created genus published combination later analysis suggested combination published correct citation species genus recently considered member family authors analysis small dna sequences showed closely related specific epithet derived latin meaning needle like commonly known devil common genus nail description body contains fungus algae primary spread like crust surface substrate light green young gray age dry upright stalk like extensions tissue range high thick grow dense clusters branches curved appear frequently erect like tall specimens highly branched upper causing bear resemblance morphology uncommon internally solid young hollow age composed long thin highly hyphae narrow wide lower older internally layer continuous contrasting species tissue types including layer occurs form absent parts surface like structures resembling produced occur tips small sterile tips small lateral branches older long terminal shaped measure reproductive structures covered spore producing abundant usually tips black roughly triangular measure diameter hymenium fertile spore bearing layer cells containing thick thirds lower hymenium sterile consisting spored rounded young shaped mature dimensions tissue hyphae eventually forms closely interwoven short broad cells large tissue black brown color intense stalk region containing fungus green nitrogen fixing present primary smaller irregularly shaped light dark brown color contain species genus green associated similar species separated similar species tall confused especially material alaska species occur usually different branching versus lack internal column shaped structure longitudinal sections relatively easy distinguish species found japan taiwan south_korea resembles shorter long habitat distribution typically grows stone rarely decaying wood usually partial shade openings low mid elevation moist forests frequently found rocky capable fixing nitrogen contribute nitrogen ecosystem probably abundant species genus specimens found west coast north_america far north alaska reported frequently british_columbia washington species found china japan korea taiwan reported russian arctic general prefer oceanic climate extremely low temperatures comparison species genus assumption supported fact found southerly findings california species frequently found northern alaska example common rare east rocky_mountains
Pilophorus acicularis