Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen
ExploreFungi
Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen
xanthomendoza fulva
The Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen is a bright and colorful fungus that looks like a tiny sunburst! It loves to grow on rocks and trees, creating beautiful patterns in nature.
Habitat: It lives on rocks and tree bark in forests and open areas.
Appearance
The Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen has bright orange to yellow-orange, flattened, rounded lobes that form a rosette-like pattern. Its underside is often a paler yellow to whitish, giving it a 'bare-bottomed' appearance. This vibrant color makes it stand out on its substrate.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassLecanoromycetesOrderTeloschistalesFamilyTeloschistaceaeGenusGallowayella
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
If you ever see one, its 'bare bottom' is pale yellow underneath!
It can live for many, many years, growing super slowly on trees.
Its bright orange color helps protect it from too much sunshine.
This lichen is actually two amazing living things working together!
Special abilities
Ability
Solar Power Super-Snack
Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen can make its own food using sunlight because it has tiny algae living inside it.
Ability
Drought Dynamo
Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen can dry out completely and then rehydrate, helping them survive harsh conditions.
Ability
Air Quality Alert
Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen can tell us about air quality because it's very sensitive to pollution.
Ability
Teamwork Titan
Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen has two partners, a fungus and algae, that work together to thrive.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 cm
- Edibility
- inedible
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Year-round
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Green Alga
Trebouxia decolorans
The alga makes food for the fungus.
eats
Grove Snail
Cepaea nemoralis
Snails often graze on its surface.
shelters
.jpg&width=800)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Small birds use its pieces for camouflage.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Bright Lichen
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen?
0.1-0.5 cm
Is Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen edible?
inedible
Where is Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen usually found?
It lives on rocks and tree bark in forests and open areas.
What does Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen grow on?
wood
When is Bare-Bottomed Sunburst Lichen in season?
Year-round
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
