No images found for this plant ID: 2810.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "2810" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
arthrorhaphis lichen
Scientific Name: Arthrorhaphis citrinella
Family: Arthrorhaphidaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
The genus Arthrorhaphis encompasses a group of fascinating lichens. This page provides detailed information about these unique organisms, including their classification, distribution, and ecological roles.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Arthrorhaphis Th. Fr.
- Rank: Genus
- Family: Arthrorhaphidaceae
- Phylum: Lichens
- Class: Lecanoromycetes
- Order: Incertae sedis
Key Species and Synonyms:
- Arthrorhaphis citrinella (Ach.) Poelt, also known as Arthrorhaphis Lichen or Golden Dot Lichen
- Synonym: Bacidia citrinella
- Synonym: Arthrorhaphis flavovirescens (A. Massal.) Th. Fr.
- Arthrorhaphis alpina (Schaerer) R. Sant., also known as Alpine Arthrorhaphis Lichen or Alpine Dot Lichen
- Synonym: Bacidia alpina
- Arthrorhaphis grisea Th. Fr.
- Arthrorhaphis vacillans Th. Fr. & Almq. ex Fr.
Distribution and Habitat
Arthrorhaphis lichens are found in a variety of habitats, including:
- Arctic regions (e.g., American Arctic)
- Alpine environments (e.g., Coast Ranges of British Columbia)
- New Zealand
- Britain and Ireland
- Taiwan
- Venezuela
They typically grow on humus, turf, detritus, dead leaves, bryophytes (mosses, liverworts), other lichens, and occasionally sandy soil.
Ecological Role
Some species within the Arthrorhaphis genus, such as Arthrorhaphis citrinella, are lichenicolous, meaning they grow on other lichens. This parasitic relationship plays a role in the dynamics of lichen communities.
Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa is also a lichenicolous fungus, causing dark blue-green patches on certain lichens.
Morphological Characteristics
- Arthrorhaphis alpina and potentially other Arthrorhaphis species can have a lemon-yellow thallus.
Quirky Facts
- Some Arthrorhaphis species are bipolar, meaning they are found in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
- Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa creates unusual blue-green patches when it grows on other lichens.
Further Information
For more information, consult the following resources:
- Catalogue of Life
- British Lichen Society (BLS) Mapping Scheme
- Tropical Lichens Online
- Northern Ireland dataset collated by CEDaR