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.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Chrysothrix Candelaris, Gold Dust Lichen
Day 100: You might mistake Chrysothrix candelaris for a smear of paint when you first notice it on a trailside tree, but in fact it is a lichen commonly called "Gold Dust." It occurs most frequently on bark, but also occasionally on rock. A hand lens will show that it is comprised entirely of tiny sorediate particles, truly resembling the dust from which its common name is derived. A related species (C. chlorina) prefers rock as its substrate, and forms a coarser, thicker crust. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Gold Dust can be found along many shady trails and even on roadside trees, particularly Douglas-fir. Take a closer look when you find it.
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