365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Aptly Named "Sunburst"
Day 19: While a lot of lichens have some rather strange common names (Frog Pelt, Ticker-tape, Volcano, Deflated Tube), the logic behind "Sunburst" is obvious. Its Latin nomenclature reflects its colour and abundant apothecia: Xanthoria polycarpa, i.e., "xanthous" (yellow) and "many-fruited." It occurs farther inland than its cousin X. parietina, a species which in any event is rather rare on the west coast. Look for the apothecial disks which distinguish it from Candelariella vitellina (Common Goldspeck). Sunburst will be found on tree bark, Goldspeck almost always on rock.
Labels:
apothecia,
Graham,
Sunburst lichen,
Xanthoria polycarpa
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