SafePlants

Buellia maritima (A. Massal.) Bagl.

Learn about the seaside disc lichen, Buellia maritima, a fascinating lichen species.

Common Names

• Seaside disc lichen

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Buellia maritima (A. Massal.) Bagl.
• Rank: Species
• Family: Physciaceae
• Synonyms: (Not explicitly stated in the text, but other Buellia species are mentioned.)

Considerations for Pets

While the text doesn't explicitly mention toxicity, lichens can sometimes accumulate substances from their environment. If you have pets that might ingest lichens, it's always wise to research the specific lichen species and its potential interactions with animals.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Finely branched lichen that grows on trees and rocks.
• Disc-shaped apothecia can measure up to 0.8 mm in diameter and are sometimes raised on short stalks.
• Ascospores are ellipsoid, measuring 6-7 x 3.5-4 ?m.

Distribution and Habitat

• Frequently found in seaside environments.
• Observed in locations such as Jeonam: Jindo county, seaside, (Korea) and Aphae-do Island (Chollanam-do, Sinan-gun), seaside, on rock (Korea).
• Also found in Gyeongnam Prov., Geoje City, Geoje Island, seaside, on rock.
• Likely to be found in exposed seaside habitats with conifers, shrubs, or rock.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The text mentions the fungal partner in lichens produces spores on raised black discs.
• Lichens, in general, involve a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria.

Quirky Facts

• The first Ediacaran fossils discovered were the disc-shaped Aspidella terranovica in 1868, which, while not directly related to Buellia maritima, highlights the historical fascination with disc-shaped organisms.

Further Information

• Bungartz, F. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region, Vol. 3.
• Stephen Sharnoff's Lichen Photos - Buellia halonia.