Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr.

Elegant sunburst lichen, sunburst lichen, elegant orange wall lichen

About plant names...

Elegant sunburst lichen is an arresting species. It is native to regions from the Arctic Circle north and the Antarctic Circle south (a circumpolar distribution), occurring on all continents except Australia as well, especially at higher elevations.

Identification: Color is the principle identifier: bright orange, dark orange, or red. Though it is quite thin, this is considered a foliose (leaf-like) lichen. If it is wet, it swells. If you peel some of it up, the lower surface is white. It is found on rocks, especially where birds provide a steady source of nutrients, such as at seashores.

Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr., 1860 (photograph of a herbarium specimen taken through a dissecting microscope (x40) showing convex, reddish-orange lobes) Growing on rock in surf, along Highway 17, 3.4 miles N from Pancake Bay Provincial Park entrance, Ontario, Canada; collected and identified by Richard E. Riefner (No. 81-306, 27 Jun 1981); specimen is now in the Lichen Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. From Ed Uebel.

Online References:

Wikipedia

The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden Center for Plant Research (great photos)

Alan Silverside's Lichen Pages on LastDragon.org

Stephen and Sylvia Sharnoff's lichen.com site

Wikispecies

References:

Walewski, Joe, Lichens of the North Woods, Kollath+Stensaas Publishing, 2007, p. 82

On granite. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

7/12/1988 · Trip with Ellie & Emil, Maine

This lichen is a darker shade of orange when it is dry. · 5/3/2007 · By Rhonda Tatiana Schorer

On concrete. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.5 × 6.6 cm)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

4/16/2017 · Whitehead Lighthouse, St. George, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

Xanthoria elegans description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine
≈ 4½ × 3½" (11 × 8.6 cm)

3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

4/16/2017 · Whitehead Lighthouse, St. George, Maine
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

7/15/1998 · Kennebunkport, Maine

On granite. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

4/3/2010 · Birch Point Beach State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 3 × 2" (7.9 × 5.3 cm) ID is uncertain

7/15/2012 · Slipway Restaurant, Thomaston, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

2/15/2009 · Odiorne State Park, Rye, New Hamp­shire
≈ 16 × 13" (41 × 32 cm)