Polysporina gyrocarpa, a crustose lichen

Found this at White Pocket, Arizona on the Navajo sandstone. I've seen a suggestion that it is a tile lichen which I can see but it's suggested that it is Lecidea tessellata which eventually dissolves the rock using acids and leaves an etching in the rock. Other photo below shows that effect, at bottom left. However to me this does not look like Lecidea tessellata as the apothecia seems far too regular compared to what appears visible here??? Any experts to help, never seen anything like this anywhere else and this was only in one small area here.

https://www.jungledragon.com/image/109605

comments (15)

Christine Young

Lion

Awesome lichen, whatever it is! Posted 4 years ago
1. NattyOne
  
  Lion
  
  Certainly is, never seen anything like it before or after. Couple more photos here.
  
  Posted 4 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Intriguing find! Wish I could help, but lichen experts are in short supply. Posted 4 years ago
1. NattyOne
  
  Lion
  
  Especially in the Arizona desert, Ferdy. The nearest I could find was someone who had seen this and posted on Alamy - several photos with the description "Lichen etchings, created when living Tile Lichens, Lecidiea tessellata, disolve rock using acids, at White Pocket, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument" which made sense to me - definitely the same organism! Then I found a blog from 2017 by Lee H Rentz & the description "A closeup view of the lichen etchings, created when living Tile Lichens, Lecidiea tessellata, dissolve rock using acids". I'm sure the photos on Alamy & the blog come from the same person (especially because of the description "Lecidiea.....") which should be, I assume Lecidea as there isn't a "Lecidiea". Unfortunately the L. tessellata just doesn't do it for me. We have a local group but I can't see those deep in the Lake District knowing a lot about the desert lichens, although I may be doing them a disservice and one may even have a contact somewhere. I'll contact them and see what they think but I know many lichens need microscope &/or DNA profiling to identify them. White Pocket is such an amazing place, I will put up a few landscapes but this "lichen" immediately struck a chord when I saw it (& apart from the scenery, the majesty of full moon set & sunrise, prehistoric paintings & cave, coyote etc. etc.) This crustose lichen stayed long in my memory. Must be my age!! Cheers, David Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    How about this:
    https://lichenportal.org/cnalh/checklists/dynamicmap.php?interface=key
    
    Best US resource I know of, but not sure if it helps you. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. NattyOne
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks, I'll have a look. Posted 4 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        There's also a bunch of knowledgeable people on Facebook in a group called 'Lichens, Mosses, Ferns and Fungi'. And, you can post lichens on the Mushroom Observer website: https://mushroomobserver.org/ Posted 4 years ago
      2. NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        Thanks Christine, I'll try that but have just found this article
        https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine-archive/node/933
        I'm wondering if the apothecia appear odd to me because of the natural forces described in the article and so have just sent an email to Jeff Mitton, the author who is still at the University of Colorado to seek his advice/input. I will, however, try these 2 other avenues tomorrow. Thanks again.David Posted 4 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Cool! Hope you get an answer! Posted 4 years ago
        
        NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        I'm waiting to see if I get an answer from Jeff Mitton but have joined LMFF facebook and have put the lichens on there, so far no bites!! Cheers Posted 4 years ago
        
        NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        It was suggested that it may be Cobblestone Lichen, I checked that but that was a no, but found an article about lichen at the Mars Desert Research Station, Hanksville, Utah from the Biodiversity Data Journal. https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/8176
        On page 25 I found a photo of Polysporina gyrocarpa. That looks the most like it that I've seen. I suggested this with the documentation on LMFF. One of the members from LMFF said "that looks just like it" and that, that lichen pattern is very familiar to him from other places in southeast Utah. So I reckon it's Polysporina gyrocarpa I've found this for Canyonlands just into Utah too. https://www.waysofenlichenment.net/lichens/Polysporina%20gyrocarpa
        So I'm requesting manual species authentication (if I get anything further, I can add to it). Posted 4 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Respect for the commitment of going so deep! Posted 4 years ago
        
        NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        You've gotta try, thanks. Posted 4 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Wow, fantastic! Posted 4 years ago
        
        NattyOne
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, I think that's it (;¬} Posted 4 years ago