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dot lichen
Scientific Name: Arthonia perminuta
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. The name "Dotted Lichens" refers to lichens in the genus Bacidia.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Phylum: Ascomycota
- Class: Lecanoromycetes
- Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia species) and Icmadophilaceae (for Dibaeis absoluta) and Ramalinaceae (for some species)
- Synonyms: Some species may have synonyms, for example, City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum) has the synonym Bacidia chlorococca.
Considerations for Pets
- Some dot lichens grow on rocks, which are attractive for reptiles to bask.
Considerations for Children
- Some dot lichens grow on rocks in the wild, which are attractive climbing for children.
Distribution and Habitat
- Dot lichens can be found in various locations, including the New Orleans area, Mt. Rainier National Park, and on palm tree bark in Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA.
- They grow on various surfaces, including rocks, birchbark, and tree bark.
Morphological Characteristics
- Dot lichens typically appear as small dots on surfaces.
- Mycobilimbia pilularis ('Dot Lichen') is a crustose lichen with a grayish-green thallus and yellowy-brown apothecia.
- DIBAEIS ABSOLUTA (Pink Dot Lichen) features pink apothecia on short stalks (approx. 1 mm).
- Some lichens appear as small dots with tiny white dots and lots of tiny lobules.
Examples of Dot Lichen Species
- Arthonia arthonioides
- Arthonia asteriscus
- Arthonia dispersa (dispersed dot lichen)
- Arthonia tuckermaniana (Tuckerman's dot lichen)
- Arthonia glebosa
- Arthonia exilis
- Arthonia rubella (found on Palm tree bark)
- Micarea nitschkeana (Nitschke's dot lichen)
- Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen)
- Bacidia rubella (Frosty-rimmed Dot Lichen)
- Leptorhaphis epidermidis (Birchbark Dot Lichen)
- Leptorhaphis atomaria (Birchbark Dot Lichen)
- Micarea globulosella (Globe Dot Lichen)
- Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (City Dot Lichen)
Quirky Facts
- Some dot lichens are so subtle that they often go unnoticed, even when abundant.
- The bright-yellow sulphur lichens on the stone walls can look novel.
Further Information
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Catalogue of Life
- USDA Plants Database
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
- ResearchGate
- WikiSpecies