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orange lichen
Scientific Name: Caloplaca galactophylla
Family: Teloschistaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Xanthoria parietina: A Colorful Lichen
Xanthoria parietina, a vibrant and widely distributed lichen, goes by several common names, including common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen, orange lichen, and orange wall lichen.
Considerations for Pets
- This lichen commonly grows on rocks, concrete, and trees, including near cattle farms where ammonia is present.
Considerations for Children
- This lichen commonly grows on rocks, concrete, and trees.
- Pigments of some lichens, especially the orange, red, and brown ones, can be extracted by boiling and used to dye wool and other fibers.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Xanthoria parietina
- Family: Teloschistaceae
- The genus Xanthoria belongs to a group of lichenized fungi.
- Synonyms or related species mentioned include: Xanthoria elegans (elegant sunburst lichen) and Xanthoria polycarpa (Pincushion Orange Lichen). There is also mention of Orange-fruited elm-lichen (Caloplaca luteoalba) and Orange-Dust Firedot Lichen (Caloplaca microphyllina)
Distribution and Habitat
- Xanthoria parietina has a wide distribution and can be found growing on rocks, concrete, and trees.
- It is found near cattle farms.
- Specific locations mentioned include: Western Isles, New Zealand (coastal rocks), Mount Washburn Trail (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming), Humboldt Lagoons State Park (California), and East Coast Cruises, Triabunna.
- It is often found along ridges or edges.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is a foliose lichen, meaning it is leafy in appearance.
- It forms large, rounded patches up to 10 cm across.
- It has wide, round-lipped marginal lobes.
- The thallus (lichen body) ranges from yellowish-green to pale- to golden-yellow or orange. It may appear grey in shaded areas.
- It lacks isidia or soredia (structures used for asexual reproduction).
- Apothecia (fruiting bodies) are usually present, with a dark orange disc surrounded by a lighter edge.
Ecological Role
- Orange lichens often identify hunting perches of birds and grow in profusion in seabird colonies.
Quirky Facts
- The orange color of this lichen is due to the production of the pigment parietin.
- The intensity of the color in lichens can vary, particularly with the amount of sun or rain. Orange or yellow lichens in shade may appear green.
- Xanthoria parietina favors ammonia and can often be found near cattle farms.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Lichens are formed from a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga.
- The alga Trentepohlia can appear as a vivid orange powdery deposit on trees.
Traditional and Potential Uses
- Pigments from colorful lichens, including orange ones, can be extracted by boiling and used to dye wool and other fibers.
- The orange pigment parietin, found in this lichen and rhubarb, may have potential as an anti-cancer drug.
Further Information
- Microchemical Methods for the Identification of Lichens by Alan Orange is a resource for identifying lichens.