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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia albofuscescens

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen: A World of Tiny Wonders

The term "Dot Lichen" is a common name applied to lichens belonging to the genera Arthonia or Micarea. "Dotted lichens" may refer to lichens in the genus Bacidia. These fascinating organisms often go unnoticed, yet they play a significant role in various ecosystems.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Common Name: Dot Lichen
  • Genera: Arthonia, Micarea, Bacidia
  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for some Dot Lichens)
  • Kingdom: Fungi (Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria)

Distribution and Habitat

Dot lichens can be found in a variety of environments, from the bark of trees to rocks. Specific examples mentioned include:

  • New Orleans area
  • Mount Rainier National Park
  • Bahia Honda Key, Florida

Morphological Characteristics

  • Some dot lichens grow in small dots on rocks.
  • Mycobilimbia pilularis, a "Dot Lichen," is a crustose lichen with a grayish-green thallus and yellowy-brown apothecia.
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta) has pink apothecia born on short stalks.

Considerations for Pets

While specific toxicity information is not provided, it is worth noting the following:

  • Some lichens, such as Mycobilimbia pilularis, have a crustose growth habit.

Considerations for Children

While specific toxicity information is not provided, it is worth noting the following:

  • Some lichens, such as Dibaeis absoluta, have small stalks.

Notable Species and Types

  • Birchbark Dot Lichen (Leptorhaphis)
  • Orange Dot Lichen (Protoblastenia rupestris)
  • Hidden Dot Lichen (Japewia tornoensis)
  • Frosty-rimmed Dot Lichen (Bacidia rubella)
  • Globe Dot Lichen (Micarea globulosella)
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta)
  • City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum)
  • Dispersed Dot Lichen (Arthonia dispersa)
  • Tuckerman's Dot Lichen (Arthonia tuckermaniana)
  • Nitschke's Dot Lichen (Micarea nitschkeana)

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Catalogue of Life
  • USDA
  • ResearchGate
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
  • Missouri Botanical Garden (MO)
  • Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)
  • WikiSpecies