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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia epipastoides

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

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.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Phylum: Ascomycota
  • Class: Lecanoromycetes
  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia and potentially related genera like Leptorhaphis) and Ramalinaceae (for at least one type of Poplar dot lichen)

Common Names and Examples

  • Birchbark Dot Lichen (Leptorhaphis species, possibly Leptorhaphis epidermidis or Leptorhaphis atomaria)
  • Orange Dot Lichen (Protoblastenia rupestris)
  • Hidden Dot Lichen (Japewia tornoensis)
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta)
  • Frosty-rimmed Dot Lichen (Bacidia rubella)
  • City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum, synonym 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)
  • Globe Dot Lichen (Micarea globulosella)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found on various substrates, including rocks, tree bark (e.g., palm trees), and birch bark.
  • Observed in locations ranging from Mount Rainier National Park to the New Orleans area and Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Mycobilimbia pilularis "Dot Lichen" is a crustose lichen with a grayish green thallus, lacking soredia or isidia, and featuring yellowy brown biatorine, convex apothecia.
  • Some dot lichens grow in small dots.
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta) has pink apothecia born on very short stalks (ca. 1 mm).

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Observed growing on palm tree bark.

Resources and Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
  • USDA
  • ResearchGate
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
  • Various online databases and resources (MO, ToL, BHL, WikiSpecies)