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dot lichen

Scientific Name: Arthonia xylographica

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dot Lichen

Dot lichen is a common name applied to lichens in the genera Arthonia and Micarea. "Dotted lichens" may refer to lichens in the genus Bacidia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Group: Lichen
  • Family: Arthoniaceae (for Arthonia and related species like ARGL17) or Icmadophilaceae (for Dibaeis absoluta). Micarea belongs to Micareaceae.
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Examples of species and their common names:
    • Arthonia arthonioides - Dot Lichen
    • Arthonia asteriscus - Dot Lichen
    • Dibaeis absoluta - Pink Dot Lichen
    • Micarea erratica - Erratic Dot Lichen
    • Scoliciosporum chlorococcum (Synonym: Bacidia chlorococca) - City Dot Lichen

Distribution and Habitat

  • Found in various locations, including the New Orleans area and Mount Rainier National Park.
  • Observed on substrates like rocks (e.g., Protoblastenia rupestris - Orange Dot Lichen) and tree bark (e.g., Arthonia rubella - Dot Lichen on Palm tree bark).
  • Leptorhaphis epidermidis and Leptorhaphis atomaria are Birchbark Dot Lichens.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Some Dot Lichens (e.g., Mycobilimbia pilularis) are crustose lichens with a grayish-green thallus.
  • Mycobilimbia pilularis has yellowy-brown biatorine, convex apothecia (fruiting bodies).
  • Dibaeis absoluta (Pink Dot Lichen) has pink apothecia born on very short (ca. 1 mm) stalks.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Observed growing on palm tree bark.

Further Information

  • Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • USDA Plants Database
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
  • ResearchGate (for Conservation Assessment reports)