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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) or Micareaceae (for Micarea) or Icmadophilaceae (for Dibaeis absoluta)
• Rank: Genus
• Synonyms: Some species may have synonyms, such as Bacidia chlorococca for Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (City Dot Lichen).

Common Names and Species Examples

• Birchbark Dot Lichen (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)
• Erratic Dot Lichen (Micarea erratica)
• 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)

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

• Dot lichens are typically small and dot-like in appearance.
• Some, like Mycobilimbia pilularis, are crustose lichens with a grayish-green thallus.
• Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen) has pink apothecia born on short stalks.

Further Information

• Encyclopedia of Life
• Catalogue of Life
• USDA
• Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
• ResearchGate