Xanthoria parietina (Link) Th. Fr., 1860
| Common name | Maritime Sunburst Lichen | |
|---|---|---|
| Code |
XANTPAR | |
| Field Characters | Small to medium, leafy chlorolichen. A distinctive yellow-orange foliose lichen, with thin, broad, concave lobes that resemble petals, with abundant apothecia centrally. No vegetative propagules. | |
| Similar species |
Xanthomendoza hasseana & X. montana: lobes narrow, plane to convex, with abundant white rhizines. | |
| Ecology | Epiphytic, known only from introduced ornamental shrubs and trees imported to Alberta from lower mainland British Columbia (Haughland et al. 2022). The only lichen we are confident was introduced to Alberta (see also Brodo et al. 2021a). We previously examined nature app records for proof of this species in Alberta, but reports were misidentifications. Haughland et al. (2022) provided two verified observations, one of multiple thalli on a Hydrangea tree that was planted approximately ten years ago, and a second, recent observation of additional thalli on newly imported greenhouse trees and shrubs from Abbotsford, British Columbia (lilacs and apple trees). To date there is no evidence of the species spreading to native host plants. | |
| Chemistry | Upper cortex PD-, K+ purple, C-, KC- (but difficult to discern due to K+ purple), UV- (variety of anthraquinones: parietin, fallacinal, emodin, teloschistin and parietinic acid by TLC according to Lindblom 2004b). Medulla typically white with all spot tests negative. | |
| Molecular support |
No new AB sequences generated. In preliminary analyses (Haughland, unpub. data) sequences in GenBank form multiple well-supported clades. The biogeography and genetic structure within X. parietina could be a fascinating study of range expansion in a “weedy” lichen. | |
| Links | ||
| Gallery |
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- Xanthoria parietina
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- Xanthoria parietina
