Candelariella antennaria explained

Candelariella antennaria, or the pussytoes eggyolk lichen,^[1] is a lichen commonly distributed in North America, and has been observed in South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} It is characterized by its gray thallus and bright yellow apothecia, as well as its very small size.

Characteristics

Candelariella antennaria is a crustose lichen best characterized by its yellow apothecia, which make up the majority of the visible lichen. The apothecial disc is a lemon-yellow or orange-yellow, flat, and not exceeding 1 mm in diameter. The disc may test K negative, or reddish. All other spot tests are negative. The thallus is colored gray and scattered, but not granular. The thallus is composed of non-gelatinized and thin-walled hyphae that do not form stipes. The lichen is small, which makes it hard to spot.^[6]

Habitat

Candelariella antennaria is most often found on tree bark of deciduous trees.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Plants Profile for Candelariella antennaria (pussytoes eggyolk lichen). plants.usda.gov.
2. Book: Lichen flora of the greater Sonoran Desert region. 2002. Lichens Unlimited . Thomas H. Nash III . P Diederich . Frank Bungartz . BD Ryan. 0-9716759-0-2. Tempe, Ariz.. 50120839.
3. Westberg. Martin. September 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745(2007)110[391:cciwus2.0.co;2 Candelariella (Candelariaceae) in western United States and northern Mexico: the 8-spored, lecanorine species]. The Bryologist. 110. 3. 391–419. 10.1639/0007-2745(2007)110[391:cciwus]2.0.co;2. 0007-2745.
4. Westberg, Martin & Clerc, Philippe. (March 2012). Five species of Candelaria and Candelariella (Ascomycota, Candelariales) new to Switzerland. MycoKeys. 3. 10.3897/mycokeys.3.2864.
5. Yakovchenko, Lidia & Ismailov, Aziz & Westberg, Martin. (2012). Candelariella antennaria NEW TO Russia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and India. Turczaninowia. 15. 27-30.
6. Web site: Plants of the Gila Wilderness-- Candelariella antennaria. wnmu.edu.