SafePlants

Pink Earth Lichen (Dibaeis baeomyces)

The pink earth lichen, scientifically known as Dibaeis baeomyces, is a fascinating example of a symbiotic organism. Commonly referred to as pink earth lichen, it's a fruticose lichen.

Considerations for Pets

• Lichens can grow on rocks, trees and fences.

Considerations for Children

• Lichens can grow on rocks, trees and fences, prompting curiosity in children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Dibaeis baeomyces
• Common Name: Pink Earth Lichen
• Family: Icmadophilaceae

Distribution and Habitat

• Pink Earth Lichen is often found on sterile soil, such as road cuts and ditches.
• Observed in locations such as New Hampshire, Charles Co., Maryland, Somerset Co., Maryland, and central Pennsylvania.
• Origin and distribution in France.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• The lichen has a gray thallus.
• It produces flesh-colored or pinkish-coral fruiting knobs on tiny stalks, approximately 0.2 inches in size.
• The species can colonize large patches of bare ground.

Ecological Role

• Lichens are often the first form of life to colonize new areas of bare rock, accelerating the weathering of rocks and changing the soils.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Lichens are a symbiotic mass of fungi and algae.
• The fungi within lichens consist of intricate bacterial communities made up of multiple species.

Quirky Facts

• Lichens have demonstrated the ability to survive in extreme environments, including simulations of Mars-like conditions.
• Some Pima and Papago names for lichens translate as "earth flower."
• Other odd names for lichen include fog fingers, angel hair, tar-jelly, and old man's beard.

Further Information

• Wikimedia Commons hosts media related to Dibaeis baeomyces.