Pin-cushion Sunburst Lichen

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Pin-cushion Sunburst Lichen is common across North America and Europe. It is found in humid microclimates on bark, usually on twigs.

The vegetative body (thallus) is leaf-like (foliose) and divided into small branches (lobes). It forms colonies up to 1¼″ in diameter or larger. It grows tightly attached to the substrate (bark) but does not have root-like structures (rhizines). The lobes are flat to convex and 1 ⁄64″ to 1 ⁄32″ (1.2 to 0.7 mm) wide. The upper surface is yellow to bright orange and smooth, sometimes somewhat shiny. It does not produce powdery dull granules (soredia) or shiny granules (isidia). There are also tiny, globular chambers (pycnidia) embedded in the thallus with an opening through which fungal spores are released. The pycnidia are inconspicuous and difficult to see because they are the same color as the thallus or only slightly darker. The lower surface of the thallus is white and somewhat wrinkled. It has scattered, short, peg-like structures (hapters) attaching the thallus to the substrate.

Disk-like, spore-producing structures (apothecia) are extremely abundant, sometimes covering the entire thallus. The disks are stalked, orange, up to 3 ⁄16″ (4.5 mm) in diameter, and shaped like a plate. They are usually smooth but sometimes wrinkled. Each disk has a ring of tissue around it that resembles the tissue of the thallus.

Trees

Foliose

Sources

4, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Common

This species was formerly classified as Xanthoria polycarpa. In 2013 it was moved to the genus Polycauliona. Most print and online sources still use the old name.

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Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota