SafePlants

Bellemerea Lichen

Bellemerea is a genus of lichens belonging to the family Lecideaceae.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Bellemerea
• Family: Lecideaceae
• Type Species: Bellemerea alpina

Bellemerea alpina (Alpine Brown Sunken Disk Lichen)

Bellemerea alpina, commonly known as the alpine brown sunken disk lichen, is a well-studied species within this genus.

• Scientific Name: Bellemerea alpina (Sommerf.) Clauzade & Roux
• Synonyms:
  • Aspicilia alpina (Sommerf.) Arnold
  • Lecanora alpina Sommerf.
  • Lecanora applegatei Herre
• Common Names:
  • Alpine sunken disk lichen (English)
  • Bellemre alpine (French)

Distribution and Habitat

• Bellemerea alpina is found growing on rocks in mountainous regions worldwide.
• Specific locations mentioned include the Canadian Rockies, British Columbia (Canada), and Erciyes Mountain (Turkey).
• It has also been recorded in China and, more recently, in Britain (Cairngorms).

Morphological Characteristics

• Bellemerea alpina is characterized as a thick, crustose areolate lichen, typically white to pale tan in color.
• The thallus is conspicuously areolate-cracked, rather thick, ranging from 1-5 cm in diameter, and orbicular, sometimes spreading irregularly among other lichens.

Ecological Role

• The text mentions the discovery of new species of lichens growing on Bellemerea, suggesting a role in supporting other organisms.

Further Information

• The text references several resources for further information:
  • Wolfram|Alpha
  • Louisiana State University Herbarium Lichen Collection
  • Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region (Nash III, T.H., Gries, C., and Bungartz, F. (eds.))
  • Mushroom Observer (mushroomobserver.org/observer/observations_by_user/2886)

Quirky Facts

• Bellemerea alpina had not been seen in Britain for more than 30 years before recent discoveries in the Cairngorms.