No images found for this plant ID: 8494.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "8494" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
orange lichen
Scientific Name: Caloplaca quercicola
Family: Teloschistaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Xanthoria parietina: Common Orange Lichen
Xanthoria parietina, a vibrant and widely distributed lichen, is commonly known as common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen, or simply orange lichen. Its striking color and prevalence make it a familiar sight in various environments.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Xanthoria parietina
- Common Names: Common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen, orange lichen, sunburst lichen, golden shield lichen, shore lichen.
- Family: Teloschistaceae
- Xanthoria is a genus of lichenized fungi.
Distribution and Habitat
Xanthoria parietina has a wide distribution and is found in various locations, including:
- Rocks
- Concrete
- Trees
- Near cattle farms (favors ammonia)
- Coastal rocks (New Zealand)
- Tombstones
- Humboldt Lagoons State Park, California
- Western Isles
- Desert environments
Morphological Characteristics
- Foliose (leafy) lichen
- Forms large, rounded patches up to 10 cm across
- Wide, round-lipped marginal lobes
- Thallus color ranges from yellowish-green to orange, and grey in shade
- Lacks isidia or soredia
- Apothecia usually present
- Starts as a small yellow or orange dot and gradually grows outward
Ecological Role
- May identify hunting perches of birds.
- Grows in profusion in seabird areas.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- A symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga. The alga is contained within the hyphae.
Quirky Facts
- The orange color of Xanthoria parietina is due to the production of the pigment parietin.
- Pigments can be extracted by boiling and used to dye wool and other fibers.
- The elegant sunburst lichen, Xanthoria elegans, is highly tolerant of hunting perches of birds.