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cracked lichen

Scientific Name: Acarospora smaragdula

Family: Acarosporaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Cracked Lichen (Acarospora spp.)

Cracked lichens, often resembling cobblestone roads or cracked paint, belong to the genus Acarospora. The name "cracked lichen" refers to the appearance of the thallus, which features a cracked-areolate structure.

Considerations for Pets

  • Lichens commonly grow on rocks and trees, potentially making them accessible to pets outdoors.

Considerations for Children

  • Cracked lichens often form a crust that may crack during growth.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Acarospora (various species)
  • Common Names: Cracked lichen, Cobblestone lichen
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Phylum: Ascomycota
  • Class: Lecanoromycetes
  • Order: Agyriales
  • Family: Acarosporaceae
  • Examples of species: Acarospora hilaris, Acarospora schleicheri (Schleicher's Cracked Lichen), Acarospora aeruginosa, Acarospora arenosa, Acarospora gallica, Acarospora impressula, Acarospora nodulosa, Acarospora socialis, Acarospora badiofusca
  • Synonyms: The text mentions "Schleicher Crack" as an alternative name for Acarospora schleicheri.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Cracked lichens can be found in various locations, including the Rocky Mountains.
  • They commonly grow on rocks, including granite and sandstone cliffs.
  • One species, Acarospora nodulosa, is found in Planalto das Cezaredas, Portugal.

Morphological Characteristics

  • The lichen thallus often begins as separate lumps that grow together, forming a continuous, cracked surface.
  • Some species have a distinctive white, cracked thallus.
  • Cracked-areolate thallus means that the continuous crust may partly or entirely crack during growth.
  • Some species may have bright yellow aeroles with small, darker apothecia.

Ecological Role

  • Lichens contribute to the breakdown of rocks.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The text mentions that Scentless mayweed can grow on cracked lichen covered sandstone cliffs.