ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > TELOSCHISTALES > Teloschistaceae

Genus Xanthoria, meaning 'golden yellow'

Common name:            Elegant Sunburst Lichen

Synonym:                    Rusavskia elegans

Habitat:                         Montane (for this entry)

Substrata:                     Rock

Growth form:                Primarily saxicolous

Thallus:                  Foliose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine

BLS identity rating:        Graded 1/5 (identification should be straightforward)

Thallus closely adpressed to the substratum, composed of radiating, narrow, up to 1mm wide, convex, strap-like lobes, usually forming a neat orbicular patch up to about 5cm dia.; in large specimens it is very common for the centre of the thallus to break up; bright orange to red-orange; apothecia usually present in large numbers, mainly towards the centre, sessile, up to 2mm dia., disc flat, smooth, concolourous with the thallus.

Not to be confused with superficially similar crustose Caloplaca species that are not as bright and cannot be lifted off the substratum.

In Britain, the species is regarded as frequent on well-lit, nutrient-rich rocks in mountain and upland areas, but also occurring on concrete and slate in more lowland areas. In Austria, where this specimen was found, it is described as "a northern holarctic species found both on natural rock outcrops and on man-made substrata (especially tiles), mostly in upland areas, descending to lower elevations in continental sites; in strongly eutrophicated situations it can occasionally overgrow bryophytes and plant remains; widespread and locally common throughout the Alps".