SafePlants

Xanthoria parietina: Common Orange Lichen

Xanthoria parietina is a foliose lichen, easily recognizable by its vibrant color and leafy appearance. It has a wide distribution and goes by several common names.

Considerations for Pets

• Lichens, including Xanthoria parietina, can grow on various surfaces such as rocks, concrete, and trees, sometimes near areas frequented by animals.
• Some lichens contain pigments, such as parietin, that give them their color. It is worth knowing that compounds found in lichens are being studied for their potential medicinal properties.

Common Names

• Common orange lichen
• Yellow scale
• Maritime sunburst lichen
• Orange lichen
• Orange wall lichen
• Sunburst lichen
• Golden Shield Lichen
• Shore Lichen

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Xanthoria
• Family: Teloschistaceae
• Xanthoria elegans is also mentioned as a lichenized species of fungus in the same context.
• Caloplaca Th. Fr. is also mentioned as an orange lichen of the Family: Teloschistaceae

Distribution and Habitat

• Xanthoria parietina has a wide distribution.
• It is found on rocks, concrete, and trees.
• It can be found near cattle farms.
• It can be observed on the coast in New Zealand.
• It is commonly found growing on tombstones.
• It's found on rocks at the beach by the edge of the Gyon Bluffs, near Freshwater Lagoon in Humboldt Lagoons State Park, California.
• It appears all over the Western Isles, on rocks, on the ground, on trees.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a foliose lichen, forming large, rounded patches up to 10 cm across.
• It has wide, round-lipped marginal lobes.
• The thallus is yellowish green to orange.
• It lacks isidia or soredia.
• Apothecia are usually present.
• Some may appear grey-green, perhaps circular

Quirky Facts

• The bright orange color of sunburst lichens can often indicate the presence of animals in the area.
• The orange color of this lichen is due to the production of the pigment parietin.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Lichens are formed from a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga.
• Orange lichens also identify hunting perches of birds and grow in profusion in seabird colonies.

Ecological role

• Lichens favor rough, water retentive, naturally alkaline bark
• This lichen can be found growing near cattle farms, as it favors ammonia.

Uses

• The pigments of colorful lichens, especially orange, red, and brown ones, can be extracted by boiling and used to dye wool and other fibers.
• The orange pigment parietin may have potential as an anti-cancer drug because it interferes with certain biological processes.

Further Information

• "Microchemical Methods for the Identification of Lichens" by Alan Orange is mentioned as a resource.