SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 8611.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "8611" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

canoparmelia lichen

Scientific Name: Canoparmelia salacinifera

Family: Parmeliaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Canoparmelia Lichen

This page provides information about the lichen genus Canoparmelia, including details on several species within the genus. Canoparmelia is also referred to as Canoparmelia Lichen and Carolina Shield Lichen for certain species.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Canoparmelia Elix & Hale
  • Family: Parmeliaceae
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Phylum: Ascomycota
  • Class: Lecanoromycetes
  • Order: Lecanorales
  • Synonyms (for Canoparmelia alabamensis): Paraparmelia alabamensis (Hale & McCull.) Elix & Johnston, Parmelia alabamensis Hale & McCull.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Canoparmelia texana, the Texan Canoparmelia Lichen, has a wide distribution.
  • Canoparmelia caroliniana, the Carolina canoparmelia lichen, is also widespread.
  • Canoparmelia aptata has been found in Indonesia, specifically Java.
  • Canoparmelia species have been identified in the Greater Sonoran Desert.
  • Specimens of Rimelia, Canoparmelia, and Canomaculina were previously collected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).
  • Canoparmelia sp. were sighted at Big Bend National Park.
  • Canoparmelia texana are found in open areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Canoparmelia are lichenized fungi with a foliose (leaf-like) thallus.
  • The thallus is approximately circular in outline and lobate.
  • Lobes can be subirregular or sublinear and are sometimes imbricate (overlapping).
  • Canoparmelia texana has a light, almost white color and powdery soredia (small clusters of algal and fungal cells).
  • Canoparmelia caroliniana has an upper surface that is finely cracked to the margin and isidiate (covered in small, cylindrical outgrowths). It also has a dark undersurface.

Ecological Role

  • Canoparmelia texana is used as a bioindicator of environmental impact, particularly from the phosphate fertilizer industry and for monitoring air pollution by radionuclides and rare earth elements.
  • They can also be used to determine the activity of radionuclides.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Grows on the bark of trees.

Further Information

  • The Ohio Moss and Lichen website provides information on Canoparmelia crozalsiana.
  • Lichens of North America (Brodo, Sharnoff, and Sharnoff, 2001, pp. 211-212, Yale University Press) contains information on Canoparmelia texana and its distribution.