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Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC.

Yellow map lichen, world map lichen

KingdomFungiMushrooms, lichens, gel fungi, yeasts, and molds; also called eukaryotes
DivisionAscomycotaSac fungi
SubdivisionPezizomycotinaSac fungi with filaments
ClassLecanoromycetes“Lichenized” fungi
OrderLecanoralesMostly lichen-forming fungi
SuborderLecanorineaeLichens
FamilyRhizocarpaceae
GenusRhizocarpon
Speciesgeographicum

About plant names...

This is one of several "map lichens," so-called because at close range, each tiny lichen is bordered by black spores that resemble borders on a map. Yellow map lichen is common in cool forests, such as the Sierra Nevada mountains, northern Maine, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Siberia. Closer to the equator, it is found at progressively higher elevations. Although it can withstand two weeks of exposure to space, it is sensitive to pollution, and fares best in low pollution environments.

Identification: The pale yellow patches with black spore-lined edges do not closely resemble other lichens. Yellow map lichen is crustose, forming a thin, tightly attached surface on rocks.

Online References:

Wikipedia

Stephen and Sylvia Sharnoff's lichen.com site

Botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Alan Silverside's Lichen Pages on LastDragon.org

The Toolik↔Arctic Geobotanical Atlas

References:

Walewski, Joe, Lichens of the North Woods, Kollath+Stensaas Publishing, 2007, p. 66

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/28/2013 · Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

 

Rhizocarpon geographicum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/15/2016 · Cadillac Mountain Summit, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

The gray patches are single-spored map lichen (Rhizocarpon disporum) · 9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Rhizocarpon geographicum (yellow map lichen, world map lichen)

9/28/2013 · Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)