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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia pyrrhula

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen

The common name "Dot Lichen" refers to lichens within the genus Arthonia or Micarea. "Dotted lichens" may refer to lichens in the genus Bacidia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Group: Lichen
  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for some Dot Lichens) or Icmadophilaceae (for Pink Dot Lichen)
  • Rank: Genus (Arthonia, Micarea, Bacidia), Species
  • Synonyms: Bacidia chlorococca (synonym for Scoliciosporum chlorococcum - City Dot Lichen)

Common Names

  • Dot Lichen
  • Birchbark Dot Lichen (e.g., Leptorhaphis epidermidis, Leptorhaphis atomaria)
  • Orange Dot Lichen (Protoblastenia rupestris)
  • Hidden Dot Lichen (Japewia tornoensis)
  • Pink Dot Lichen (Dibaeis absoluta)
  • City Dot Lichen (Scoliciosporum chlorococcum)
  • Erratic Dot Lichen (Micarea erratica)
  • Granite Firedot Lichen (Caloplaca arenaria)
  • Frosted-rimmed Dot Lichen (Bacidia rubella)
  • Cherry-laurel Dot Lichen
  • Dispersed Dot Lichen (Arthonia dispersa)
  • Tuckerman's Dot Lichen (Arthonia tuckermaniana)
  • Nitschke's Dot Lichen (Micarea nitschkeana)
  • Globe Dot Lichen (Micarea globulosella)
  • Sulfur Firedot Lichen

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found on rocks in locations such as Mt. Rainier National Park.
  • Observed on palm tree bark in Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA.
  • Arguably the most abundant lichen in the New Orleans area.

Morphological Characteristics

  • 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 very short (ca. 1 mm) stalks.
  • Grows in small dots.

Considerations for Pets

  • Some lichens grow on tree bark.

Quirky Facts

  • The text references an article in The Times with the headline: "I'm lichen it!" showing the play on words with 'lichen'.

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
  • USDA
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany