Salted Shield Lichen
Parmelia saxatilis
The 'salted' appearance comes from tiny, cylindrical structures called isidia, which break off to help the lichen reproduce vegetatively.
- Scientific name
- Parmelia saxatilis
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Ascomycota › Lecanoromycetes › Lecanorales › Parmeliaceae › Parmelia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Siliceous rocks, stone walls, and the bark of deciduous and coniferous trees in humid, temperate, and boreal zones.
- Diet
- Produces energy via photosynthesis (by its symbiotic algal partner) and absorbs water and dissolved minerals directly from the atmosphere.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, Polar Regions
- Size
- Thallus ranges from 5 to 20 cm in diameter, growing only 1-3 mm per year.
- Lifespan
- 50 to over 100 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Air pollution (specifically sulfur dioxide and nitrogen deposition), deforestation, and urbanization.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe and gently touch this lichen. Avoid scraping or peeling it from its substrate, as it grows incredibly slowly. Wash hands after handling and do not ingest.
Parmelia saxatilis , commonly known as the salted shield lichen or crottle , is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae.
Photo: Tero Linjama, CC0, via iNaturalist
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