A Sinewed Bushy Lichen Rising from Sunburst Lichen
Ramalina americana
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 100 • Aperture f/16 • Shutter 1.0 s
E21A9554_Merge • Size: 5445x3630
E21A9228-33-1
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/13 • Shutter 0.3 s
E21A9228-33-1 • Size: 2525x3788
Specimen 3
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/13 • Shutter 0.3 s
E21A9234-41-1 • Size: 1621x2432
| SPECIMEN | THALUS | UPPER SURFACE COLOR | LOWER SURFACE COLOR | RHIZINES | APOTHECIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E21A9136 | Composed of flat lobes with different upper and lower surfaces. Figure 2f. Exceeding 5mm. Foliose | Blue-gray | Brown | Sparse | |
| E21A9228-33 | |||||
| E21A9234-41 |
Thalus composed entirely of flat lobes with clearly different upper and lower surfaces. Fruticose - Thalus relatively large, more than 5 mm long or high, with most branches or stalks for than 0.2 mm in diameter.
Thalus
The main body of a lichen, composed of fungal and algal cells. It can be crustose (crust-like), foliose (leaf-like), or fruticose (shrub-like).
Foliose
A growth form of lichens that is leaf-like, with lobes that are loosely attached to the substrate. Examples include Xanthomendoza fallax and Physcia species.
Crustose
A growth form of lichens that is crust-like, tightly adhering to the substrate. Examples include Lecanora and Candelariella species.
Fruticose
A growth form of lichens that is shrub-like, with branching structures that are often attached at a single point. Examples include Cladonia species.
Squamulose
A growth form of lichens that is composed of small, scale-like structures called squamules. Examples include Squamarina species.
Leprose
A growth form of lichens that is powdery or granular, lacking a defined thallus. Examples include Lepraria species.
Rimose
A growth form of lichens that is cracked or fissured, often with a rough texture. Examples include Rimelia species.
Trait Comparison Table
| Trait | Xanthoria parietina (Common Sunburst) | Caloplaca spp. (Orange Lichens) | Physcia aipolia (Star Rosette) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Bright lemon‑yellow to deep orange; intensifies in sun | Orange to reddish‑orange; often duller | Pale gray‑green with white patches |
| Growth form | Crustose base with foliose, lobed margins | Strictly crustose, flat, tightly attached | Foliose rosettes with radiating lobes |
| Texture | Smooth to granular; soredia along lobe edges | Granular, powdery, no lobes | Smooth lobes with white pseudocyphellae |
| Fruiting bodies | Orange apothecia, disk‑like | Abundant orange apothecia, often covering thallus | White‑rimmed apothecia, contrasting with thallus |
| Substrate | Bark, rock, untreated wood, man‑made surfaces | Rocks, walls, concrete, soil | Tree bark, especially hardwoods |
| Chemical test (KOH) | Cortex K+ orange/red (parietin pigment) | Cortex K+ orange | Cortex K+ yellow, medulla K– |
| Ecological role | Nitrogen‑tolerant, thrives near bird perches and urban sites | Often colonizes nutrient‑rich stone surfaces | Indicator of clean air, less tolerant of nitrogen |