elegant sunburst lichen

Description:

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. The thallus of this lichen is described as foliose, having the aspect of leaves, although the central portions of the thallus may appear nearly crustose. It is small, typically less than 5 cm wide, with lobes less than 2 mm broad, appressed to loosely appressed. The upper surface is some shade of orange while the lower surface is white, corticate, with short, sparse hapters. It has been described as possessing swollen, orange-yellow thalli (in streams), compact orange thalli (on boulders) or dark orange-red thalli on the driest rock faces.

Habitat:

It has a circumpolar and alpine distribution. This specimen was found in peña de francia at 1.727 meters high close to the border between Castille and Portugal.

Notes:

It was one of the first lichens to be used for the rock-face dating method known as lichenometry. It has also medical applications against cancer