SafePlants

Dot Lichen

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.

Considerations for Pets

• Some lichens grow in small dots on rocks, which might be of interest to pets exploring outdoor environments.
• Preserved lichen pendants are sometimes available, potentially posing a risk if ingested by pets.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Fungi
• Phylum: Ascomycota
• Class: Lecanoromycetes
• Order: Not Specified in Text (but implied through class)
• Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia and potentially related species) or Ramalinaceae (for poplar dot lichen) or Icmadophilaceae (for pink dot lichen)

Common Names & Examples

• Dot Lichen
• Dotted Lichen
• Birchbark Dot Lichen (Leptorhaphis)
• Orange Dot Lichen (Protoblastenia rupestris)
• Hidden Dot Lichen (Japewia toronensis)
• Frosty-rimmed Dot Lichen (Bacidia rubella)
• Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta)
• Poplar Dot Lichen
• Cherry-laurel Dot Lichen
• City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum, Syn. Bacidia chlorococca)
• Granite Firedot Lichen (Caloplaca arenaria)
• Firedot Lichen (Caloplaca holocarpa)
• Multicolored Dot Lichen (Cliostomum griffithii)
• Dispersed Dot Lichen (Arthonia dispersa)
• Tuckerman's Dot Lichen (Arthonia tuckermaniana)
• Nitschke's Dot Lichen (Micarea nitschkeana)

Morphology & Growth Habits

• Mycobilimbia pilularis 'Dot Lichen' is a crustose lichen with a grayish green thallus without soredia or isidia, and yellowy brown biatorine, convex apothecia.
• Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen) has pink apothecia born on very short (ca. 1 mm) stalks.
• Grows in small dots on rocks.

Distribution & Habitat

• Found in various locations, including Mt. Rainier National Park and Bahia Honda Key, Florida (Arthonia rubella on palm tree bark).
• The most abundant lichen in the New Orleans area.

Ecology

• Lichens can grow on various substrates, including tree bark (e.g., palm trees), rocks, and potentially other surfaces.

Quirky Facts

• Someone wrote "I'm lichen it!" in a Times article about eating oak moss.

Synonyms

• Bacidia chlorococca is a synonym for Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (City Dot Lichen).

Further Information

• Encyclopedia of Life
• Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
• USDA
• Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
• ResearchGate (for Conservation Assessments)
• WikiSpecies
• Missouri Botanical Garden (MO)
• Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)