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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia complanata

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen: A World in Miniature

The term "Dot Lichen" serves as a common name for lichens belonging to either the genus Arthonia or the genus Micarea. The term "Dotted Lichens" refers to lichens within the genus Bacidia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia and likely other dot lichens) and Ramalinaceae (for at least one type of Globulose Dot Lichen)
  • Genus Examples: Arthonia, Micarea, Bacidia, Leptorhaphis, Dibaeis, Scoliciosporum, Trypethelium, Verrucaria, Punctelia, Caloplaca, Cliostomum, Mycobilimbia, Bilimbia, Japewia.
  • Synonyms: Bacidia chlorococca is a synonym for Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (City Dot Lichen).

Considerations for Pets

  • Preserved lichen used in pendants can be a novelty item. If the pendant contains hemp wick, this may present a potential ingestion hazard for pets if they were to chew on or ingest the pendent.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dot lichens are found globally. One specific example is that they are abundant in the New Orleans area.
  • They can be found growing on various surfaces, including rocks (even in places like Mt. Rainier National Park), palm tree bark (e.g., in Florida), and birch bark.
  • They are found on stone walls, like along the Walden road, and in picnic areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Dot lichens grow in small dots.
  • Mycobilimbia pilularis is a crustose lichen with a grayish-green thallus (body) without soredia or isidia. It has yellowy-brown biatorine, convex apothecia (fruiting bodies).
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta) has pink apothecia born on very short stalks (around 1 mm).
  • Punctelia bolliana (Speckled Shield Lichens) is a grey foliose lichen with a few tiny white dots and lots of tiny lobules, but no isida or soredia.

Quirky Facts

  • One article headline reads, "I'm lichen it!" in reference to eating oak moss.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Dot lichen grows on palm tree bark.

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