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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia tetramera

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen

The term "Dot Lichen" is a common name applied to various lichens, particularly those belonging to the genera Arthonia or Micarea. "Dotted lichens" may refer to lichens within the genus Bacidia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Arthoniaceae
  • Kingdom: Fungi (as lichens are a symbiotic association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria)
  • Note: The provided text also mentions other families for specific Dot Lichen species, such as Icmadophilaceae for Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen) and Micareaceae for Micarea erratica (Erratic Dot Lichen).

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions "Pink apothecia born on very short (ca. 1 mm) stalks" for *Dibaesis absoluta*, which may be of interest regarding small part ingestion.

Distribution and Habitat

  • One type of lichen grows in small dots on rocks in Mt. Rainier National Park.
  • Arthonia rubella has been observed on palm tree bark in Bahia Honda Key, Florida, USA.
  • One of the most abundant lichens is in the New Orleans area.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Mycobilimbia pilularis ('Dot Lichen') is described as a crustose lichen with a grayish green thallus lacking soredia or isidia, and yellowy brown biatorine, convex apothecia.
  • DIBAEIS ABSOLUTA (Pink Dot Lichen) has pink apothecia on short stalks (approximately 1 mm).

Specific Dot Lichen Species Mentioned

  • Arthonia arthonioides - Dot Lichen
  • Arthonia asteriscus - Dot Lichen
  • Arthonia exilis
  • Arthonia dispersa (dispersed dot lichen)
  • Arthonia tuckermaniana (Tuckerman's dot lichen)
  • Arthonia glebosa - dot lichen
  • Arthonia rubella
  • Bacidia chlorococca (Synonym: Scoliciosporum chlorococcum - City Dot Lichen)
  • Bacidia rubella (Frosty-rimmed Dot Lichen)
  • Bacidia schweinitzii (Surprise lichen)
  • Bacidina egenula
  • Bilimbia sabuletorum (Six-celled moss-dot)
  • Caloplaca arenaria (Granite firedot lichen)
  • Caloplaca holocarpa (Frosted -rimmed dot lichen)
  • Cliostomum griffithii (Multicolored dot lichen)
  • Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen)
  • Japewia tornoensis (Hidden Dot Lichen)
  • Leptorhaphis epidermidis (Birchbark Dot Lichen)
  • Leptorhaphis atomaria (Birchbark Dot Lichen)
  • Micarea erratica (Erratic Dot Lichen)
  • Micarea globulosella (Globe Dot Lichen)
  • Micarea nitschkeana (Nitschke's dot lichen)
  • Mycobilimbia pilularis (Dot Lichen)
  • Protoblastenia rupestris (Orange Dot Lichen)

Other Lichens Mentioned

  • Speckled Shield Lichens (Punctelia bolliana)
  • Scatter-dot Goldspeck Lichen
  • Granite firedot lichen
  • Sulfur Firedot Lichen
  • Speckled blister lichen (Trypethelium virens)
  • Black stone lichen (Verrucaria nigrescens)

Quirky Facts

  • Someone wrote an article in the Times about eating oak moss and the headline was "I'm lichen it!".

Resources and Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Catalogue of Life
  • USDA
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
  • ResearchGate
  • MO (Likely refers to the Missouri Botanical Garden)
  • ToL (Tree of Life Web Project)
  • BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library)
  • WikiSpecies
  • LSID JSON / WMS /RDF