Pilophorus acicularis ("Devil's Matchstick")

From Mount Rainier National Park:

Humans can't claim to be the only pioneers to have occupied Longmire. Pilophorus acicularis ("Devil's Matchstick") is a "pioneer" lichen, one of the first to colonize freshly exposed rock surfaces. Chemicals within the structure of many lichens contribute to soil formation by causing certain minerals in rock to become more soluble. Subsequently when the lichen dies, its decaying organic matter accumulates in the pits and cracks it has helped to create, forming a substrate for the next species to colonize. An uncommon lichen, Pilophorus acicularis is also a nitrogen-fixer, much like the legumes of agricultural fame (peas, alfalfa, etc.). This factor is what gives it an advantage over other lichens which cannot establish on bare rock. ~cv