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California cracked lichen
Scientific Name: Acarospora californica
Family: Acarosporaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
California Cracked Lichen
Learn about the fascinating California Cracked Lichen, a unique plant found in specific regions.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Acarospora californica Zahlbr.
- Common Names: California Cracked Lichen, Cobblestone Lichen, Cracked Lichen
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Not specified in text.
- Family: Acarosporaceae
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Acarospora caesiofusca (Mull. Arg.) H. Magn.
Distribution and Habitat
- Primarily found in California, including the Sierra foothills, Sierra Nevada, Pinnacles National Park, Santa Monica range, and other regions.
- Also found in other areas such as Alaska, Colorado, and Baja California.
- Grows on rocks, walls, and in cracks in various habitats.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- The lichen thallus initially consists of separate lumps growing on the prothallus.
- These lumps often merge, forming a continuous, cracked surface, resembling a cobblestone road or cracked paint.
- The thallus can be "areolate," meaning it's cracked into numerous individual sections.
Quirky Facts
- The California Cracked Lichen has been proposed as the state lichen of California.
- Its cracked surface reveals a visible yellow layer below.