Xanthoria Polycarpa

Day 188: If you have ever seen Xanthoria polycarpa (above) or its eastern cousin, X. parietina, you will never forget the colour. Seen in the distance, it assaults the eye with a statement of orange which is undeniable, but on closer observation, hints of yellow and green insert themselves into the visual perception, leaving the viewer rather in want of a proper adjective to describe the hue. To my eye, it is beautiful, arguably one of the most striking lichens in the catalog, yet I have heard more responses of "ewwwww!" to it than to any other species. Young growth or that which receives more sunlight is often a richer, orangy shade; the abundant apothecial disks exhibit strongly coloured centers surrounded by pale rims. Although this species is occasionally observed on evergreens, it prefers hardwood, here seen on the lower portion of a flowering plum which it almost entirely covered. The effect of pink flowers or mahogany leaves rising above an orange trunk is truly other-worldly!