genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
in the family
Teloschistaceae
The Teloschistaceae are a large family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. The family, estimated to contain over 1800 species, was extensively revised in 2013, including the creati ...
. Common names include orange lichen,''Xanthoria''. USDA PLANTS. orange wall lichen,Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, and sunburst lichen. They can be identified by their characteristic
squamulose
A squamulose lichen is a lichen that is composed of small, often overlapping "scales" called squamules. If they are raised from the substrate and appear leafy, the lichen may appear to be a foliose lichen, but the underside does not have a "ski ...
Xanthoria elegans
''Xanthoria elegans'', commonly known as the elegant sunburst lichen, is a lichenized species of fungus in the genus ''Xanthoria'', family Teloschistaceae. Recognized by its bright orange or red pigmentation, this species grows on rocks, often ne ...
Xanthoria parietina
''Xanthoria parietina'' is a foliose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It has wide distribution, and many common names such as common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen and shore lichen. It can be found near the shore on ...
Xanthoria ulophyllodes
''Xanthoria'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. Common names include orange lichen,Xanthoria whinrayi
''Xanthoria'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. Common names include orange lichen,Xanthoria yorkensis
''Xanthoria'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. Common names include orange lichen,
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The
taxa
In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...
''Xanthoria coomae'' and ''Xanthoria polessica'' were determined to be the same species as ''X. parietina'' in a 2020 publication.