''Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa'', known as the tumbleweed shield lichen or ground lichen, is a
foliose
Foliose lichen is one of the morphological classes of lichens, which are complex organisms that arise from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and a photosynthetic partner, typically algae. This partnership allows lichen to live in diverse ...
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.[Parmeliaceae
The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 822 ...]
family. It is not fixed to a substrate, and blows around in the wind from location to location.
Distribution and habitat
This lichen is abundant on the High Plains of
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...
. Its distribution covers intermountain regions of western North America, and Mexico.
Uses
Tumbleweed shield lichen is used as a dye by
Navajo
The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States.
With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...
rug weavers.
It has been used as a remedy for
impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs. Less commonly there may be large blisters which affect the groin or armpits. The lesions may be pa ...
by the Navajo.
Toxicity
It was implicated in the poisoning of domestic sheep and cattle in Wyoming during the 1930s. It has also been implicated in the poisoning of
elk
The elk (''Cervus canadensis''), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The common ...
in 2004.
See also
*
List of ''Xanthoparmelia'' species
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q8043068
chlorochroa
Lichens of North America
Lichens of Mexico
Lichens described in 1974
Lichen species
Taxa named by Edward Tuckerman