Common Sunburst Lichen
ExploreFungi
Common Sunburst Lichen
xanthoria parietina
The Common Sunburst Lichen is a bright yellow-orange lichen that looks like tiny sunbursts on rocks and trees! It helps clean the air by absorbing pollutants and is a great indicator of healthy environments.
Habitat: You can find it on rocks, tree bark, and walls in both urban and natural settings.
Appearance
The Common Sunburst Lichen is a bright, often brilliant orange-yellow to greenish-yellow lichen forming flat, leafy rosettes. Its vibrant, almost glowing color makes it easily identifiable, especially when dry and exposed to sunlight. The lobes are distinct and somewhat overlapping.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassLecanoromycetesOrderTeloschistalesFamilyTeloschistaceaeGenusXanthoria
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
2
Interesting facts
Common Sunburst Lichen can help break down rocks, paving the way for other plants to grow!
Its amazing orange color gets brighter when it gets more sunshine, like a natural tan!
This lichen is actually a perfect team of a fungus and algae working together!
You might spot tiny animals, like mites and snails, munching on this colorful lichen!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Survivor
Common Sunburst Lichen can dry out completely and then rehydrate, helping it survive extreme temperatures and drought.
Ability
Sunblock Power
Common Sunburst Lichen has special yellow pigments that act like sunscreen, protecting it from strong sunlight.
Ability
Surface Clinger
Common Sunburst Lichen can grow on many surfaces like rocks, tree bark, and man-made structures, colonizing diverse places.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 cm
- Spread
- 5-20 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
tree-dwelling algae
Trebouxia arboricola
provides food for the fungus through photosynthesis
eaten by
grove snail
Cepaea nemoralis
grazes on the lichen's thallus, especially when damp
shelters
water bear
Milnesium tardigradum
tiny invertebrates live within the lichen for protection
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.
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.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Common LichenSunburst LichenYellow Scale Lichen
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Sunburst Lichen?
The easiest way to identify Common Sunburst Lichen is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Common Sunburst Lichen?
0.1-0.5 cm
How wide does Common Sunburst Lichen spread?
5-20 cm
Is Common Sunburst Lichen edible?
No
Is Common Sunburst Lichen toxic?
None
What is Common Sunburst Lichen's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Common Sunburst Lichen usually found?
You can find it on rocks, tree bark, and walls in both urban and natural settings.
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
May 10, 2026
Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Eli Talhouk, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park45 sightings50 species
Rhode Island, US
Norman Bird Sanctuary
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Park30 sightings12 species
US
Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District
You might spot Rugosa Rose and European Green Crab.
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Park6 sightings3 species
California, US
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
You might spot Valley Oak, Two-Horned Gall Wasp, and Silk Tree.
View guide →
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