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dot lichen
Scientific Name: Micarea elachista
Family: Micareaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Dot Lichen
The term "Dot Lichen" is a common name applied to lichens belonging to either the genus Arthonia or the genus Micarea. "Dotted lichens" may refer to lichens within the genus Bacidia.
Considerations for Pets
- Lichens can grow on various surfaces, including rocks and trees. Some pets might be tempted to ingest lichens found outdoors.
Considerations for Children
- Lichens grow on rocks, trees and other surfaces. Children may be tempted to touch or pick at these, potentially exposing them to environmental irritants or allergens.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Names: Arthonia, Micarea, Bacidia
- Family: Arthoniaceae (for some species, based on ARGL17 reference)
- Rank: Genus
- Synonyms/Related Terms: Dotted Lichens
Distribution and Habitat
- Arctic Eurasia (Europe, Americas - North America including Mexico, Oceania - Australasia)
- Found in various locations, including Mount Rainier National Park and Bahia Honda Key, Florida.
Morphological Characteristics
- Grows in small dots.
- Mycobilimbia pilularis ('Dot Lichen') is a crustose lichen with a grayish-green thallus without soredia or isidia and yellowy brown biatorine, convex apothecia.
- Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta) has pink apothecia born on short stalks arising from a thin greenish crustose primary thallus.
- Speckled Shield Lichens (Punctelia bolliana) are grey foliose lichens with tiny white dots and lobules.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Lichens can grow on palm tree bark.
Other Dot Lichen Varieties Mentioned
- Birchbark dot lichen (Leptorhaphis)
- Orange Dot Lichen
- Frosty-rimmed dot lichen (Bacidia rubella and Caloplaca holocarpa)
- Firedot lichen (Cliostomum griffithii)
- Multicolored dot lichen
- Granite firedot lichen (Caloplaca arenaria)
- Dispersed dot lichen (Arthonia dispersa)
- Tuckerman's dot lichen (Arthonia tuckermaniana)
- Nitschke's dot lichen (Micarea nitschkeana)
- Golden Dot-Lichen (Arthrorhaphis citrinella)
- Sulfur Firedot Lichen
- City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum Syn: Bacidia chlorococca)
Resources and Further Information
- iNaturalist.org
- Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
- LIASlight
- ResearchGate (Conservation Assessment for Pink Dot Lichen)
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
- MO (likely referring to Missouri Botanical Garden)
- ToL (Tree of Life Web Project)
- BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library)
- WikiSpecies