Older stipes are often covered with epiphytic red algae. There are two to four hard and waxy pollinia with stipes present or absent. Once the plant has the support of neighboring branch, stipes and pinnae form. The stipes are unbranched and each blade has a gas bladder at its base. Other species live on, and graze directly on, the stipes (stalks) of brown algae (kelp). Etiolated stipes (elongation without cap maturation) is caused when grown without light. The caps, stipes and gills are all white in colour. The maxilla has a sclerotised band between the cardo and stipes. Blades originate from elongated stem-like structures, the stipes. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes. Asplenium viride is known as the green spleenwort because of its green stipes and rachides. Mycologist David Arora recommends discarding the tough stipes. Over time mushroom stipes and caps were reduced, and caps began to enclose reproductive tissue. Fungi that have stipes are said to be stipitate. A characteristic of the genus includes one uniserial stipes with very elaborate thecae.