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spike lichen
Scientific Name: Calicium leucochlorum
Family: Caliciaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Calicium Species: The Enigmatic Spike Lichen
The genus Calicium, commonly known as Spike Lichen, encompasses a variety of fascinating lichen species. These lichens belong to the family Caliciaceae and the broader group of lichens.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Calicium
- Family: Caliciaceae
- Kingdom: Fungi (Lichens are classified as members of the Fungi kingdom by convention)
- Synonyms: Calicium hemisphaericum (for Calicium adaequatum)
Considerations for Pets
- Some descriptions mention "spikes" on the lichen, which could pose a minor physical hazard if handled by curious pets.
Considerations for Children
- Some descriptions mention "spikes" on the lichen, which could pose a minor physical hazard if handled by children.
Distribution and Habitat
- These lichens are found in various regions, including the Greater Sonoran Desert Region and the Balkan Peninsula.
- Specific species like Calicium parvum suggest a habitat in pine forests.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Calicium species are lichenous, meaning they are a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium.
- Some descriptions refer to "tiny spikes" on gray lichens, reflecting their distinctive morphology.
Species Spotlight
- Calicium hyperelloides
- Calicium abietinum
- Calicium salicinum
- Calicium glaucellum
- Calicium chlorosporum
- Calicium corynellum
- Calicium adaequatum (Adequate Spike Lichen)
- Calicium adspersum
- Calicium trabinellum (Green Spike Lichen)
- Calicium viride (Green Spike Lichen)
Ecological Role
- Lichens, in general, prefer undisturbed habitats.
Further Information
- Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region
- Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist