# Wolf Lichen (*letharia vulpina*)

Wolf Lichen is a bright greenish-yellow lichen that often grows on tree bark. It is a special plant that helps to tell us about the health of the forest!

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 4
- **Habitat:** Wolf Lichen can be found in forests, especially on the bark of trees.
- **Also known as:** Deer Lichen, Lichen of the Wolf, Wolf Moss

![Wolf Lichen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Letharia_vulpina_JHollinger_crop.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Letharia_vulpina_JHollinger_crop.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wolf Lichen is a striking, bushy lichen with a vibrant chartreuse to greenish-yellow color. Its tangled, branch-like lobes often grow in clusters, resembling small, scraggly shrubs clinging to tree bark or old wood.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Lecanoromycetes
- **Order:** Lecanorales
- **Family:** Parmeliaceae
- **Genus:** Letharia

## Interesting facts

- Historically, it was mixed with bait to poison wolves and foxes!
- It's actually two organisms living together: a fungus and an alga! Wow!
- People once used its bright yellow color to dye wool and textiles.
- This tough lichen can live for hundreds of years on trees and rocks!

## Special abilities

- **Toxic Shield:** Wolf Lichen can produce a bitter, toxic acid that helps it defend against hungry animals trying to eat it.
- **Teamwork Power:** Wolf Lichen has a superpower duo where algae make food and a fungus provides shelter, helping it thrive in tough places.
- **Desert Survivor:** Wolf Lichen can dry out almost completely and then rehydrate when it rains, helping it survive long droughts.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 3-7 cm
- **Spread:** 5-10 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Deadly
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [Douglas Fir](https://www.snappit.app/explore/douglas-fir) (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) — Grows on the bark of this common conifer.
- **Depends on:** [Engelmann Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/engelmann-spruce) (*Picea engelmannii*) — Frequently colonizes the branches and trunks of this tree.
- **Shelter:** [Canada Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-jay) (*Perisoreus canadensis*) — Some birds use lichens like it for nesting material.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wolf Lichen?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Wolf Lichen?

3-7 cm

### How wide does Wolf Lichen spread?

5-10 cm

### Is Wolf Lichen edible?

No

### Is Wolf Lichen toxic?

Deadly

### What is Wolf Lichen's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is Wolf Lichen usually found?

Wolf Lichen can be found in forests, especially on the bark of trees.

## Where to spot

- [Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument-and-preserve) — Idaho, US · National Park
- [Fort George Wright](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-george-wright) — Washington, US · Historic Site
- [Sun Pass State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sun-pass-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest
- [Otter Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/otter-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park
- [Stemwinder Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stemwinder-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

[View all places to see Wolf Lichen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wolf-lichen)

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Wolf Lichen: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wolf-lichen)