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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia glebosa

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen: An Overview

The common name "Dot Lichen" refers to lichens found in the genera Arthonia or Micarea. "Dotted lichens" is a common name for lichens in the genus Bacidia. This article will explore the various species referred to as Dot Lichens, their characteristics, and ecological roles.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Common Name: Dot Lichen
  • Genera: Arthonia, Micarea, Bacidia
  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia and related species), Icmadophilaceae (for *Dibaeis absoluta*), Micareaceae (for *Micarea erratica*)
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Examples of species and their classification:
    • City Dot Lichen: Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (Synonym: Bacidia chlorococca), Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Lecanoromycetes
    • Erratic Dot Lichen: Micarea erratica, Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Lecanoromycetes, Order Lecanorales, Family Micareaceae
    • Pink Dot Lichen: Dibaeis absoluta (Tuck.) Kalb & Gierl, FAMILY: Icmadophilaceae

Considerations for Pets

  • Some Dot Lichens grow on tree bark. Preserved lichen pendants with tree dot signatures are available, some attached to hemp wick necklaces.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dot lichens can be found in various locations, including:
    • New Orleans area
    • Mount Rainier National Park (growing on rocks)
    • Bahia Honda Key, Florida (on palm tree bark)

Morphological Characteristics

  • Mycobilimbia pilularis ('Dot Lichen') is described as a crustose lichen with a grayish-green thallus (body) and yellowy-brown, convex apothecia (fruiting bodies).
  • Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen) has pink apothecia born on very short (ca. 1 mm) stalks.

Quirky Facts

  • One article headline read: 'I'm lichen it!' on an article in the Times about eating oak moss.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Some dot lichens are found on tree bark (e.g., Arthonia rubella on palm tree bark).

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Catalogue of Life
  • USDA Plants Database
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
  • ResearchGate (for Conservation Assessments)
  • WikiSpecies
  • Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)