Pink Earth Lichen
Dibaeis baeomyces
Though they look like tiny pink mushrooms, the stalks are actually fungal fruiting bodies called apothecia growing from a leafy green crust.
- Scientific name
- Dibaeis baeomyces
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Ascomycota › Lecanoromycetes › Pertusariales › Icmadophilaceae › Dibaeis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Acidic soils, clay banks, road cuts, and disturbed ground in open woodlands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (via symbiotic green algae) and mineral absorption.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia
- Size
- Stalks 2-6 mm tall; crustose colonies can spread up to 30 cm.
- Lifespan
- Several decades
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Soil compaction, heavy off-road foot traffic, and overgrowth by invasive vascular plants.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can observe this lichen up close without any danger. Avoid stepping on the clay banks where they grow, as they are fragile, slow-growing, and help prevent soil erosion. No special precautions are needed if touched, though washing hands afterward is good practice.
Dibaeis baeomyces , commonly known as pink earth lichen , is a fruticose lichen belonging to the family Icmadophilaceae. The species was first described by Linnaeus.
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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