powdered ruffle lichen
Parmotrema hypotropum
This species serves as an ecological bioindicator; its presence indicates clean, high-quality air free of heavy industrial pollution.
- Scientific name
- Parmotrema hypotropum
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Ascomycota › Lecanoromycetes › Lecanorales › Parmeliaceae › Parmotrema
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Bark of deciduous trees, particularly oaks, in open, humid forests and woodlands.
- Diet
- Self-nourishing through photosynthesis by its symbiotic algal partner, absorbing moisture and minerals from the air.
- Range
- North America, Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean
- Size
- Thallus diameter of 3 to 10 cm, with ruffled lobes 3 to 10 mm wide.
- Lifespan
- 30 to 100+ years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Air pollution (particularly sulfur dioxide), habitat loss from logging, and climate change affecting humidity levels.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. This lichen is safe to touch and observe up close. Do not scrape it from its substrate, as it takes years to grow. It is non-toxic to touch but should not be ingested.
Photo: Michael J. Papay, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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