Orange lichen or possibly Squamulea squamosa or Rusavskia elegans

Found on a volcanic rock
f9, 1X, 1/6 sec, 100 ISO, 57um, 282 steps

comments (4)

Christine Young

Lion

I'm not sure that it could be Pyronema omphalodes because that fungus grows on burned soil and wood. Your observation looks to be of a lichen, but I'm not sure which one. Rusavskia elegans is similar, but I'm not sure if it's a match. I would recommend looking at lichens that grow on rock in AZ. Posted 2 years ago

William Bodine

Lion

Thanks for the lichen update. Nearly 20 percent of all known species of lichen in North America can be found in Arizona. A recent lichen survey found almost three hundred species just in the area I observed this. Perhaps change it to Squamulea squamosa or Rusavskia elegans also. Posted 2 years ago, modified 2 years ago

Calbost Niel

Lion

I'm lichen it Posted 2 years ago
1. William Bodine
  
  Lion
  
  It is gouda, isn't. Posted 2 years ago

The Xanthoria elegans

''Xanthoria elegans'', commonly known as the elegant sunburst lichen, is a lichenized species of fungus in the genus ''Xanthoria'', family Teloschistaceae. Recognized by its bright orange or red pigmentation, this species grows on rocks, often near bird or rodent perches. It has a circumpolar and alpine distribution. It was one of the first lichens to be used for the rock-face dating method known as lichenometry.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Teloschistales

Species identified by William Bodine